09/04/2026
As part of a commitment to supporting local artists and in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Route 66, McKinley County recently purchased a painting from local emerging artist Jaycee Custer. The work, titled “Hues Over 66”, celebrates both the modern and traditional with its depiction of a Route 66 scene in front of Richardson’s Trading Co. In front of the store is a classic Chevy truck with a sheep in the bed of the truck. Parked in front of the Chevy is a Tesla Cybertruck.
“The juxtaposition of that against the traditional background of Richardson's shows how diverse Gallup is. I want people to see that,” Custer said. “A lot of people don't like it, but it's just a reality of today. You can't hide it.”
Custer, 30, grew up in Gallup, and is by trade a jewelry artist but has been painting since he was six or seven years old. He got away from it for a time in his life to focus on his family’s traditional craft of jewelry. He is a third-generation silversmith.
He recently got back into painting again after being asked to participate in a show by Art123 about Route 66. He originally intended to create a jewelry piece for the show but decided it wasn’t the right medium.
“It was a lot easier for my emotions to come out and come through in the painting,” he said.
While he may look to the traditional for how he practices his craft, he looks to the present for inspiration. Custer counts contemporaries such as Pharrell Williams and Virgil Abloh as influences but also the genres of anime, rap music, fashion and architecture as important inspirations for his work.
“I kind of want to take that traditional practice and evolve it and bring it into a new light,” he said.
The painting will live at the McKinley County Courthouse, which already houses a collection of local art and historic murals.
"Supporting local artists such as Jaycee Custer is important to us because they help tell the story of Gallup and McKinley County, strengthen our sense of community, and contribute to our local economy,” Deputy County Manager Brian Money said. “The arts are a big part of what makes McKinley County a special place to live and visit."
