What is Native Art? Eugene Landry and the Creative Spirit | Washington History Museum

Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe artist Eugene Landry (1937–1988) was a gifted painter who captured local scenery and people. Paralyzed as a teenager, the bulk of his work dates from 1960–1979, a pivotal time in his Tribe’s history. After his death, he was largely forgotten outside the Tribe until 2019, when artist Judith Altruda discovered around 70 of his paintings stored in a barn. With a Humanities Washington Storytellers grant, the Tribe partnered with Altruda to produce an exhibition and book, Portrait of Gene—An Artist, A Tribe, and a Time. Learn about Landry’s creativity, spirit, and legacy in this expanded exhibition at the Washington State History Museum. Image: Eugene Landry, Decaying Boat, 21“x 24” oil on panel 1964. Photo by Marcy Merrill.