Our Mission: To celebrate Grant Wood’s legacy by uniting communities, preserving his Iowa City home as a creative gathering place, and fostering the arts across Iowa and beyond.
Everyone knows American Gothic. Far fewer know the man who painted it. Grant Wood was the people's artist, a son of rural Iowa with a belief that art could elevate the ordinary. That his story is so little known is by design by others. In his lifetime, some felt threatened by his success and by who he was as a gay man, and they worked to diminish him. For decades after his death, his name and place in history were never given their full due.
Guided by our founder, James P. Hayes, we are changing that by celebrating one of America's most iconic artists and the belief that art, rooted in place and community, can shape culture and connect generations.
Through preservation, storytelling, and activation, we ensure that art endures and a legacy lives on.
Our Work:
Preserving Grant Wood’s Iowa City Home - 1142 East Court Street
At the heart of the Grant Wood Legacy Project is the preservation of Grant Wood’s home and studio, where the artist lived, worked, and taught. This space—once filled with light, imagination, and the everyday rhythms of Iowa life—embodies the very spirit of Regionalism. Maintaining it ensures that future generations can experience the place where Wood transformed local landscapes and lives into enduring art. The home will serve as both a historical landmark and a living classroom, connecting visitors directly to the artist’s world and his belief that creativity begins where you are.
Our Work:
Hayes/Wood Legacy Lecture & Award
The Hayes/Wood Legacy Lecture and Award celebrate the enduring influence of Regionalism by honoring individuals who exemplify creativity rooted in community and place. Each year, the Lecture convenes artists, scholars, and cultural leaders to explore how art reflects and shapes the human experience. The accompanying Award recognizes those whose work carries forward Wood’s vision: transforming everyday life into something timeless through imagination, empathy, and craft.
Our Work:
The Grant Wood Historic Sites Collaborative
The Grant Wood Historic Sites Collaborative unites museums, historic homes, and cultural landmarks across Iowa that share in preserving the artist’s story. Through shared resources, joint programming, and collective storytelling, the Collaborative strengthens the network of places that shaped Wood’s life and work. Together, these partners ensure that the legacy of Grant Wood and the values of creativity, community, and belonging that define Regionalism, remain vibrant and accessible to all.
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