10 Public Domain Libraries for Creatives

Every year, thousands of artworks, books, films, music, and more, enter what is called the public domain, meaning that the copyright or patent laws on these works no longer apply. This means creatives can effectively use, repurpose, and sell these works with little to no limits. 

This year for example, the works of Frida Kahlo and Henri Matisse entered the public domain as they passed in 1954. Salvador Dalí’s Illumined Pleasures also entered the public domain this January. With more works consistently being added to the list, the public domain is a brilliant resource for designers who are looking for some new creative materials to work with. Here are some of our favorite places to source works in the public domain!

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1. Public.Work
A public domain image search engine by Cosmos

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2. The Met Open Access
The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Public Domain Collection Initiative

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3. Old Book Illustrations
An archive of book illustrations dating between the 18th and 20th century

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4. Biodiversity Heritage Library
A collection of biodiversity literature images compiled on their Flickr stream available for use

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5. National Gallery of Art
Their permanent collection is under the open access policy

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6. The Public Domain Image Archive
A collection of more than 10,000 historical images in the public domain

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7. Library of Congress
The free to use and reuse U.S. Library of Congress digital collection

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8. Nationalmuseum Stockholm
This Swedish museum of art and design released 3000 free use images to Wikimedia

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9. Wellcome Collection
Wellcome Collection hosts over 76 thousand pieces images in the public domain

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10. The Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago hosts over 50 thousand images under the creative commons licence.

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About the Author

Kireina Masri

Kireina Masri has had their nose stuck in a book since they could remember. Majoring in Illustration, they now write of all things visual—pouring their love of the arts into the written word. They aspire to be their neighborhood's quirky cat lady in their later years.