Doug Hyde
For the last two decades, Hyde has been a recognized leader among Native American artists, and his reputation has been increasing. From images evoked by Indian lore to those reflecting the modern Native American, his work exudes emotion, strength, and beauty and resonates with influences from his Native American heritage. Hyde was born in Hermiston, Oregon of Nez Perce, Chippewa, and Assiniboine background. He studied at the Institute of American Indian Art in Santa Fe, where he worked with renown sculptor Allan Houser, and continued his artistic education under a scholarship at the San Francisco Institute of Art. Hyde then served with the army in Vietnam, but was gravely wounded during his second tour of combat duty. Upon his return, Hyde moved back to Santa Fe, where he continued his studies at night by learning to carve stone using power tools, while working during the day. Beginning in 1972, he served as a faculty member at the Institute of American Indian Arts, leaving in 1974 to devote himself full-time to his own artwork. Hyde sculpts in a wide array of materials including marble, alabaster, onyx, limestone and finally, bronze. His creativity has evolved with even greater diversity through working in bronze. The contrast and textures he achieves by sculpting in this medium and exploring different patinas is remarkable and bold. Sculptures by Doug Hyde are included in the collections of the Amon Carter Museum of Western Art, the Colorado Springs Fine Art Center, the Heard Museum, Museum of the Southwest, the Eitelborg Museum, and the Gilcrease Museum. The Gilcrease Museum sponsored a retrospective exhibit of Hyde's work in 1990. A Fellow of the National Sculpture Society, Hyde was elected to its board of directors in 2008. That year was an auspicious one for Hyde, as he also received the Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation Award for Sculpture at the Autry National Center of the American West's Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition and Sale, in recognition of his outstanding artistic merit. Additionally, his 14-foot bronze, "Little Turtle," was purchased by the Smithsonian's Cultural Resource Center in Washington, D.C. as part of its permanent collection. Hyde has continued to be granted numerous commissions for public and private works, and was awarded the 2009 Best Sculpture Award by the Eiteljorg Museum at their Quest for the West show and sale. Since 2006 Doug Hyde has worked out of his studio in Prescott, Arizona.
