Joe, Hyrum
Born in 1979 in Farming, New Mexico, and raised in Shiprock and Kirtland, New Mexico, Hyrum grew up in a family of Native American Artists. He received inspiration from his father, Oreland C. Joe, Sr., a well-known bronze and stone sculptor. After graduation from high school, he studied figurative charcoal drawing and oil painting at Mesa Community College in Mesa, Arizona, under instructor Jim Garrison, who taught with deep admiration for the masters of the 19th century. Hyrum was quickly drawn into his favorite subject matter, painting Native American portraits and portraying their culture and unique lifestyle from 1850 - 1950, a time period that is intriguing to him and still somewhat accessible.
He has shown his paintings through various art venues in New Mexico and Arizona, including the Santa Fe Indian Market and The Heard Museum Guild Indian Market.
Hyrum gets his inspiration by seeking to live what he paints. Whether his paintings depict Northern Traditional Dancers at a powwow or an elderly Navajo couple at a Squaw Dance, he feels a need to be there in order to get a true feeling and sense of what it has been like throughout history. In addition to this influence, Hyrum has studied as well as appreciated the works of master painters Howard Terpning, Ned Jacob and the late Christian-theme painter, Harry
Hyrum admits his strong desire to paint his people in a most authentic and respected manner comes from his wife, Celinda, a Native American potter, son Ouray, named after the Great Chief Peace Leader of the Colorado Utes, and toddler daughter, Aspynn .
Though he is mainly of Navajo ancestry, he also has Southern Ute ancestry from his father, Hopi blood from both his mother's and father's sides and Apache from his mother's side. |  | |
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"Southern Ute Songs"- by Hyrum Joe who place first this year at the Santa Fe Indian Market 2009 in the painting category. Hyrum's work depicts Native peoples in traditional dress and activities that are relevant to his people. Joe has a unique painterly style and his colors are as rich as his subject matter is.
"Her First Born"= Celinda, Hyrum's wife is the model in this beautiful oil painting, as well as one of his three children. Depicted is a Navajo woman dressed in a traditional outfit caring for her child in a traditional Navajo cradle board. The image size is 17 1/2 x 23 1/2 inches.
"Johnny From Sheep Springs" Oil painting by Hyrum Joe depicts an elderly Native American man wearing traditional turquoise beads while at the same time wearing a Arizona trucker cap. The image size is 7 1/2 by 9 1/2 inches.
"Three Years in the Saddle" Hyrum Joe won first place at the Santa Fe Indian Market 2009, in the painting category. Featured is a portrait of a young Navajo boy on horse back in the Southwestern landscape. His subjects in his portraits are often times his family members. The image measures 5 1/2 by 7 1/2 inches.
