Leighton Oyen (1897-1994) was a La Crosse artist and interior designer who worked for his father Odin J. Oyen in the decorating and interior design firm. Until Odin J. Oyen's death in 1926, the firm concentrated on doing large and fancy decoration work for governmental buildings, churches, commercial buildings, and some residences. By the Depression, the firm concentrated solely on interior design and operated a framing and retail store. In the interview, Oyen describes his art training and education, experiences as part of the Wisconsin Sixth infantry in World War II, his parents and especially his father, the decoration of certain buildings in La Crosse, and the Oyen firm and its employees, focusing on pre-Depression work and decorating methods. This interview was done in preparation for an exhibit of the five-mural work of the Odin J. Oyen firm at the pinnacle of business from 1900 to 1920.
