Wayne Hyde, a renowned bronze sculptor from Bedford County, Pennsylvania, has built an impressive career creating life-sized and larger bronze sculptures that now grace locations across the United States and beyond. The middle child of three boys who grew up on his parents' dairy farm near Manns Choice, Hyde has transformed his childhood passion for creating art into a distinguished career producing monuments that honor soldiers, first responders, and cultural icons.
Hyde's artistic journey began early, using leftover pie dough and clay from a neighbor taking ceramic classes to create his first permanent works around age 10. His parents, with his mother being a skilled seamstress and father drawing and making clay figurines, provided the creative foundation that would shape his future. Despite being largely self-taught as an artist, Hyde has developed a reputation for meticulous attention to detail, historical accuracy, and the ability to infuse his bronze creations with soul and emotion.
The sculptor's works can be found in diverse locations, from downtown Bedford and Everett in Pennsylvania to cities across Tennessee, New Jersey, and Missouri. Perhaps most notably, his piece "The Charge," commissioned in 2009 by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, depicts a Mountie on horseback with spear in full gallop. The first casting of this sculpture was presented to Queen Elizabeth II and now resides in Buckingham Palace, while additional pieces have been given as gifts to visiting heads of state.
Hyde specializes primarily in memorials honoring military personnel from various conflicts including the Civil War, Vietnam War, and World War II, as well as tributes to firefighters and police officers. However, his versatility extends beyond military subjects – he is currently working on a monument of the legendary musical duo The Everly Brothers, designated for installation in a special themed music park in Knoxville, Tennessee. The project honors the popular musical pair who performed from 1951 to 1973.
One of Hyde's most emotionally resonant works is "When Seconds Count," a memorial for the Chester Fire Company in New Jersey honoring volunteer firefighters. The sculpture specifically memorializes Larry Maysey, an Air Force paramedic who posthumously received the Air Force Cross for his heroic actions during a classified operation in the Vietnam War. Maysey died when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his helicopter while he was helping wounded soldiers board the aircraft. At the memorial's 2005 dedication, Hyde was approached by one of the Marines originally sent to recover Maysey's body, who told him, "I want to thank you for doing what I was unable to do. You brought Larry home."
The artistic process for creating these monumental works is extensive and complex, typically taking one to two years from conception to installation and costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Hyde begins by developing detailed storylines and characters for each piece, researching historical accuracy in clothing and equipment, then creating small-scale models before progressing to full-scale versions. His Civil War monument at the Missouri State Capitol marked his entry into major monument work after he connected with Joseph Bronze Foundry in Oregon.
Hyde's path to becoming a bronze sculptor included formal training at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, where he studied commercial art despite his preference for fine arts. After a brief consideration of working for Hallmark creating seasonal figurines, he chose to return to Bedford County rather than relocate to an urban environment. A significant turning point came during his time in Carlsbad, New Mexico, where he worked as a firefighter and met bronze artist Curtis Fort, who introduced him to the bronze casting process and connected him with foundries specializing in bronze art.
Currently, Hyde continues working on the Everly Brothers monument while planning smaller desktop wildlife pieces, which have always been a personal passion. His existing works include "Eyes of the Forest," portraying an Eastern Woodland warrior prepared for battle, and "The Tennessee Volunteer." Local examples of his work can be viewed at The Veterans Grove in Bedford at the corner of Penn and Juliana Streets and in Everett at the corner of Main and Hopewell Streets. Additional pieces are displayed and available for purchase at Lord Nelson's Gallery in Gettysburg, and more information about his work can be found at waynehydebronze.com.
