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 Anderson.

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.