Wallowa County Artist Eugene Hayes

The Hurricane Creek Grange contains a wonderful piece of commercial artwork. This very large piece of commercial art is attached to the wall of the stage. It is a montage of advertisements for the 1960s. The businesses advertising by means of this artwork are those who wanted their names in public places to increase sales. The one for the Joseph area has always been placed at the Hurricane Creek Grange. The only other one in existence moved around the town of Wallowa and is now in the Promise Grange Hall, a structure now in private ownership.

These two pieces of iconic artwork are the work of a man many called “the” artist of Wallowa County in the days when few artists were living here.

Eugene Hayes, always known as Gene, was born February 16, 1923, on Bear Creek just south of the town of Wallowa. His parents, Hugh and Bessie Hayes, were local pioneers. He attended school at Wallowa but his education was interrupted by World War II.

Gene suffered the loss of his right hand in a feed mill accident in 1947 and decided to follow his brother into the work of commercial art using his left hand. He married and raised a family with the proceeds of his art commissions. He lived in Wallowa County and spent some time in Northern Idaho. In the 1960s he painted commercial ads and signs all over Wallowa County. Wallowa Lake, Joseph, Lostine and Wallowa were known to be the home of some of his larger works. He also etched stationary, made whimsical maps, and painted landscapes.

Gene passed away at Elgin, Oregon, in the home of his children on February 16, 2020, and is buried with his first wife in the Lostine Cemetery.

Prepared and written by Marilyn Hulse. For more info, you can read Gene’s obituary or see some of his art at the Hayes Art Gallery & Museum in Elgin, Oregon.