Buffalo Dancer
1990
Located: Southwest Corner Grounds, Paseo and Don Gaspar
Marble
Doug Hyde (b. 1946)
Santa Fe
Gift of the Family of Adrienne and Jerome Harold Kay
Capitol Art Collection, Capitol Art Foundation
Doug Hyde was born in Hermiston, Oregon, of Nez Perce, Assiniboine, and Chippewa descent. His work is influenced by Indian lore he learned as a boy from his grandfather and other elders who, through legends of animal characters, taught the morals of the people, the ways of Mother Earth, and how human beings came to be.
He attended public school until his elder teen years, when he transferred to the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe. There, Hyde studied with the late renowned Apache sculptor and mentor Allan Houser from 1963 to 1966.
Hyde enlisted in the Army and served two years in Vietnam. After receiving a serious wound in 1968, he was honorably discharged. Seeking to hone his skills, he took a job making tombstones, which rekindled his interest in sculpture. This work taught him the intricacies of carving stone and introduced him to the use of stone-carving power tools.
In 1972, Hyde became a faculty member at the Institute of American Indian Arts, where he taught and continued his practice as a full-time sculptor.
About the Work
Buffalo Dancer reflects Hyde’s dedication to preserving Indigenous stories and ceremonial imagery through powerful, enduring forms. His marble sculptures blend traditional subjects with modern techniques, emphasizing both cultural continuity and personal craftsmanship.
