Delmer J. Yoakum (December 6, 1915 – October 25, 1996) was a fine artist, oil and watercolor painter, designer, serigrapher, Disneyland and Hollywood motion picture studio scenic artist.

Throughout Delmer’s childhood, he was surrounded by artists. His mother was a painter. Painting was his passion. In the late 1930’s, he received a scholarship for four consecutive years to study each summer with Thomas Hart Benton.

Yoakum’s occupation was that of a painter, designer and Motion Picture Artist in Hollywood from 1952-1972. For over 21 years, he worked for Paramount, 20th Century Fox and MGM and did special assignments for Walt Disney Studios. He also did his own fine art painting in his own studio. Among his many accomplishments during his career, he painted the Grand Canyon and Primeval World Diorama scenery (viewable from the train of the Disneyland Railroad) and portions of Pirates of the Caribbean, It’s a Small World and the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland California.

He also painted scenery for movies such as, The Shoes of the Fisherman. He created the city of Jerusalem for The Robe which won the 1953 Academy award for Best Art Direction – Set Direction and Color. He created a 600 foot cyclorama that backed the safari camp set of The Snows of Kilimanjaro. Other films he created diorama scenes for include. Some Like it Hot, The King and I, Alfred Hitchcock’s, North by Northwest (the Mount Rushmore scene) and many others. During his time at 20th Century Fox, He also worked on many of the Marilyn Monroe pictures and even an Elvis movie.

Yoakum’s work has been exhibited in over 50 galleries, museums, festivals, schools, colleges and art shows. He has received over 30 awards and national recognition over the years.

Delmer was married to his wife Barbara for over 50 years. They had three children and lived in Sedona Arizona.