Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2025/No. 219 i Western Art Collector

Early news articles about the Southwest—primarily Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Southern California—reveal an almost fairy tale-like understanding of this mysterious and distant place. Some of the attention was on the Indigenous people and their unique customs and clothing, but some was also on the bizarre plants and wildlife, the intense heat, the adobe and Spanish architecture, the vastness of the desert, and the lawlessness of the land. These strange and wonderful details would weave their way into newspapers, pulp magazines and, later, into early American cinema. And as people learned more, the Southwest took shape in their minds. East Coasters—some of them choking in the soot and smog of the factories in New York City, Pittsburgh and Boston—were reading these accounts in the early 1900s and longing for the…

Just before Thanksgiving, Settlers West Gallery in Tucson, Arizona, will host the 2025 edition of its Great American West exhibition, a showcase of 100-plus works by more than 50 of the gallery’s top artists. This is Settlers West’s biggest show of the year, with an array of talented artists on the roster, including C. Michael Dudash, Jeremy Winborg, Ross Buckland, Jessica L. Bryant, Don Oelze, Scott Tallman Powers and more. Darcie Peet’s newest Southwestern landscape, Globe Mallow Dusk, captures the dramatic evening light casting dappled shadows across a desert mountainscape. In the foreground are saguaros, sagebrush and other desert flora. “In Tucson, we have striking sunsets in both directions…as the sinking sun in the west sets mountains and clouds aglow in the east. We have 360-degree sunsets, and this was…

When we first started covering Maxwell Alexander Gallery’s Black Friday online sale, we often told collectors that, prior to the show’s opening, they should restart their computers or devices, close unused tabs in their browsers and shut off any streaming happening on the Wi-Fi connection. The tone of these suggestions was always playful, but now those tips aren’t just fun suggestions but real strategies. Collectors be warned: every second matters in this sale. This year’s Black Friday sale, the 13th hosted by the gallery, will take place on November 28, with the entirety of the sale happening on the gallery’s website. The online store opens at 9 a.m. Pacific. Buyers are encouraged to refresh their browsers at 9 a.m. because once the store is open, the works go fast. Last…

Dustin Payne is known for his Western portrayal of history in bronze sculpture. With his traditional style, he encapsulates the feeling and detail of the Western way of life. Payne was born into a rodeo and ranching family in southern New Mexico in 1981. Growing up as a thirdgeneration sculptor in his family, he began learning the trade at an early age. Endless inspiration came out of studying the great works of Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell, and he was influenced by the books and drawings of Will James. Being close to his family’s ranch, as a young man he experienced first-hand the traditions of the Western way of life. Payne came to know the skills of roping, riding and working with cattle. The strength and character of the…

In 2005, the Booth Western Art Museum launched its first Western American Art South of the Sweet Tea Line exhibition, featuring Western art from Southern collections—both private and public. Opening November 22, the Booth opens its seventh exhibition in the series, boasting around 18 sculptures and objects as well as 41 paintings. “This year’s exhibition is a little different in that we included some works of art that were donated to the museum after Sweet Tea VI, as well as amazing works in private collections,” says Lisa Wheeler, director of curatorial services at the Booth. “More than 30 households located in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee are represented, and the exhibition features approximately 59 works of art by 50 artists.” Upon touring collector’s homes, looking through treasured collections and selecting works…

The city of Tehachapi, California, isn’t close to the coast, but what it may lack in oceanside views it makes up for in gorgeous desert and mountainous landscape scenery. Tehachapi has attracted countless Western artists, many who come visit the ranches that uplift the Western lifestyle in the region. The area is emboldened even more by the annual Art 2025 Tehachapi art show and event organized by the Tehachapi Arts Commission. Now in its fifth edition, the event brings together more than 50 artists who gather inspiration from the Tehachapi area for their show. “We encourage artists to paint the area,” says Dwight F. Dreyer, founder and CEO of the Tehachapi Arts Commission, who adds that the mission behind the event is to establish Tehachapi as a destination for representational…

After a stunning $22 million sale in July, the Coeur d’Alene Art Auction is nearly halfway to its July 2026 sale, which means the auction house is presenting its fall online sale. The year’s live online auction will be November 8 and feature more than 200 lots. For auction partner Mike Overby, the sale is coming at a time of immense success for not only his auction, but also other Western auctions. “The market was due to overperform and that’s what we’re seeing. After Covid in 2020, and then two or three years of going a little sideways, the market is getting its footing back. We had great success in July, but also before that in our summer and fall sales in 2024,” Overby says. “And consignors and bidders are…

Dallas-based Heritage Auctions is celebrating Western art with a series of events and sales from November 3 to 7 at its Texas headquarters. Dubbed Western Art Week, the celebration will shine a light on Heritage’s deep appreciation for art of the American West. Heritage’s Western specialist, Alissa Ford, says the auction house has been a longtime supporter of the genre, through the highs and lows of the market. “The Western market is evolving, and I’m excited that we can be pushing that. It’s not what it used to be; Western art encompasses a bigger narrative of the West,” she says, adding that Heritage’s sales offer traditional Western art and more contemporary, boundary-pushing art. She specifically mentions the work of Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai artist who worked…

In 1919, having outlived both Frederic Remington and Charles Shreyvogel respectively by 11 and 7 years, Charles Marion Russell was entering some of the last productive years of his life. By then he was widely acknowledged as the leading living example of artists who painted and sculpted the American West. In 1924, he received a letter from his friend Irvin S. Cobb, who summered with Charlie and Nancy Russell at Bullhead lodge on Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park. Cobb was a popular much-admired comedian and a frequently quoted public commentator, who said, much in the manner and spirit of Mark Twain, “I want to tell you what is the truth!”: “That [truth] is that you can do more with camel’s whiskers and earthen pigments out of tubes than any…

We make the observation in these pages that small works are great for gift giving and holiday presents. Yes, that is true, these make great gifts. But we’re also sort of winking at you: “Go ahead and get it for yourself. No judgment.” Whatever your motivations, small works are part of a wonderful tradition in the art world. The price point is always appreciated, especially for novice collectors or those on a tight budget. These works will frequently be available at a fraction of the cost of a larger work by the same artist, which makes acquiring them easier on your wallet. But it also goes beyond price. Some collectors don’t have room in their homes for large art, so small works are the only pieces that will fit. Others…

A new duo exhibition at the Museum of Western Art in Kerrville, Texas, will celebrate the works of Buffalo, New Yorkborn sculptor Mark Yale Harris and Californian painter Kathleen Frank, who now lives in Santa Fe. Each artist brings a wholly unique view of the West to their artwork: Frank with her dreamy, illustrative landscapes, and Harris with his abstract animals carved in stone and bronze. Their artwork bolsters the continuously evolving world of modern Western art—a world in which past, present and future join together. “Our museum visitors and collectors are always eager to enjoy exhibitions from artists never seen here before. We look forward to Kathleen Frank and Mark Yale Harris offering a fresh and exciting collection of paintings and sculptures,” says Darrell Beauchamp, executive director of the…

From November 5 to 8, Scottsdale Artists’ School in Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona, will transform into a vibrant venue of fine art and philanthropy during the annual Beaux Arts Fundraiser Gala and Online Art Auction. The event brings together artists, collectors and art enthusiasts to celebrate the next generation of creative minds. The in-person gala will take place on Saturday, November 8, from 6 to 9 p.m., during which guests can enjoy live music, food and drink, door prizes, and the opportunity to connect with esteemed artists in an intimate setting. This year’s featured artist is award-winning artist Daniel J. Keys, known for his expressive, painterly florals and landscapes. In addition, one attendee will have the chance to acquire signature sculptor Sandy Scott’s new bronze Star Gazer, awarded through a…

Beginning November 6, Freeman’s | Hindman will present more than 250 works to bidders in a pair of sales, one live in Denver and one online the following day. Organizers of the sale are calling now the perfect time to buy and sell Western art, and encourage bidders to tune in. “The Western market is experiencing something of a perfect storm—a good one. The supply of fresh, important material, both classic and contemporary, is high, as is collector participation,” says Adam Veil, vice president at Freeman’s | Hindman. “After all, the West has always enjoyed a privileged position, apart from broader market trends. This has resulted in a dynamic, confident market and a time of great opportunity for buyers and sellers alike.” One early standout in the sale is Charles…

John Moran Auctioneers has to only point at its calendar to prove its support of Western art: Western art has five sales a year, while other genres at the auction house have only two. “Western art is an important component to us,” says Katherine Halligan, the director of fine art at John Moran Auctioneers. “It has the benefit of not only historic artists, but living artists, as well as collectors in the West and the East. It such a big region and it encompasses so much.” The California-based auction house will present its next Western sale, Art of the American West, on November 19, with more than 425 lots spread across fine art (paintings and bronzes) and also Native American material such as pottery, basketry, carvings, weavings and jewelry. “It…

It has been two years since Josh Gibson’s second sold-out exhibition at Mark Sublette Medicine Man Gallery in Tucson, Arizona. A 2016 graduate of the California College of the Arts with a BFA degree with distinction in illustration, he appeared in two group shows the following year at Medicine Man. In 2019, when we were preparing an article on emerging artists for this magazine, Sublette suggested Gibson and his work without hesitation. At that time, Gibson commented on his work, “With a perception forged by the surreal qualities of the Sonoran Desert, I find myself preoccupied by the magical dance of reality and continually impressed by nature and the human brain. Many of my projects are conceived in a process that is almost alchemical, consisting of a merging of previously…

Author Joan Didion once wrote, “Novels are like paintings, specifically water colors. Every stroke you put down you have to go with. Of course you can rewrite, but the original strokes are still there in the texture of the thing.” She was talking about writing, but she also succinctly boiled down the medium of watercolor, which is a beautiful method of painting, but one that can be punishingly difficult to perfect. For artists, and Didion as well, it all comes down to paper: the intentionality of the artist’s hand, the lightness of their touch, the texture and tooth of the paper, and the mastery of those critical early marks that can never be erased, completely painted over or concealed. Works on paper have a robust history in American art that…

Culminating in one exciting evening is the time-honored event Small Works, Great Wonders, hosted at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. The 2025 event offers the public small and miniature artworks in both traditional and contemporary Western styles that will be available during a fixed-price draw. “Small Works, Great Wonders…is designed for both new and seasoned collectors,” says Susan Patterson, curator of special exhibits. This year’s sale will feature more than 240 works of art in a high-energy, festive atmosphere. This one-night-only event…offers collectors a unique opportunity to acquire fine works at more accessible price points.” New artists include Benjamin Walter, Katelyn Betsill Del Vecchio, Aaron Schuerr, Lee Alban and Richie Vios. Returning fan favorites include Greg Beecham, Sean Michael Chavez, Mary Ross Buchholz, Daniel Smith, Tyler Crow, Brad…

In 1965, Joe Beeler, Charlie Dye and John Wade Hampton met at a ranch in Sonora, Mexico, to ride and rope, but also to watch as authentic cowboys worked cattle and horses. These early accounts don’t mention paintbrushes, easels or even sketchpads. The purpose of the trip was fellowship and creative support among artists. These principles, along with authenticity to the West, would become the foundation of the Cowboy Artists of America, which is now celebrating its 59th year. Today, the 19 active members of the group are keeping those dreams alive with a CA that has moved firmly into the 21st century. It’s a changed world when compared to 1965: Western art is more widely appreciated today (B. Byron Price refers to Beeler, Dye and Hampton as “a trio…

Founded in 1948 in Tucson, Arizona, the Mountain Oyster Club has a unique history steeped in Western traditions and Southwestern lifestyle. “There are many colorful stories of how the Mountain Oyster Club came to be… The most common versions say that it was begun by a group of cowboys, playboys, ranchers, polo players, race-horse types, and others whose unacceptable behavior had gotten them thrown out of all of the respectable establishments in Tucson,” the Mountain Oyster Club website notes. Whatever the story, the club playfully credits these six men as “the ones to blame” for its founding: Peter Gillham, John K. (Jack) Goodman, Nick C. Hall, J. R. (Rukin) Jelks, R.C. (Bob) Locke and Hubert Merryweather. This year, the Mountain Oyster Club will be hosting its 56th Annual Mountain Oyster Club…

On November 7 and 8, the Santa Fe Art Auction will present the Signature Live Sale, its largest and most comprehensive sale of the year. For Gillian Blitch, president and CEO of the Santa Fe Art Auction, the sale offers an opportunity to show what the auction house offers and to also expand it into other areas. “The goal of this auction in recent years is to show the best of everything we have to offer throughout the rest of the year. Of course, we’re best known for Native American arts, including the best pieces [of] pottery, textiles, jewelry and contemporary and Indian school paintings. But then we also have works on paper, classic and contemporary Western art, great photography and so much more,” Blitch says. “We’re also expanding into…

Featuring around 250 lots, John Moran Auctioneers’ fall California & American Fine Art will take place on November 18 at the auction house’s headquarters in Monrovia, California. The sale will feature a dynamic and fascinating collection of work that will speak to the strength of the genre. “The California market really struggled back 20 years ago, but the category is doing really well. Our spring sale was strong with a great selection of material, and we’ve also had some really strong single-owner sales that included California plein air,” says Katherine Halligan, the director of fine art at John Moran Auctioneers. “Overall, we’ve had a very strong six months across all categories, which has defied the doom and gloom that is coming out of some of the big New York houses.”…

It started innocuously enough with Lot 2, a Carl Roters horse painting that went $5,000 over estimates. Then more lots: Carl Hantman, Russ Vickers, Don Crowley, Frank McCarthy. All over estimates. When a Billy Schenck painting doubled its high estimate in Lot 17, that was the Jackson Hole Art Auction delivering a message: “Hang on, cowboy.” More than 350 lots later, the annual sale had racked up more than $13.5 million in sales with 97 percent lots sold. To put that into perspective, the total high-estimate value of the sale was only $10.2 million. It is a record for the auction house. “It was a very good sale. In fact, we’ve been hearing from consignors, clients and even competitors who have been very impressed,” Kevin Doyle, managing director, says. “I’m…