Western Makers: Ryder Gauteraux

Spotlights on artists and artisans who specialize in silver, leather, stone, wood and beyond.

There is “next level” and then there is the level Ryder Gauteraux takes his creations. Not only does the Idaho bootmaker create magnificent works of wearable art using a variety of art forms, but he also frequently takes his clients out to hunt the desired leathers he needs to make them. “I go to extremes, that’s for sure. I want to build something that nobody else has,” he says. “In order to do that you have to go to the best sources and use unique materials.”

He recently finished a pair of boots made of bullfrog skin, which required six bullfrogs roughly 8 inches across. Most frequently he uses American alligator, specifically gators from southwest Texas, because they make some of the best leathers in the country. “Nature produces some nice clean hides in the wild in that area,” he says. “I’ll take clients down, have fun for a couple of days and it adds to the story and to the adventure. It’s an experience.”

Gauteraux founded Gauteraux and Co. after 15 years competing in rodeo events and riding bucking horses. So he knows the importance of a good pair of boots, which is why he’s always pushing the envelope on design, materials and quality. He’s based out of Wallace, Idaho, where he lives with his partner in all things—business, artistic, life—Amanda Heimbuch, who works in silver and contributes to Gauteraux’s designs. Together they are raising two girls, with another girl due this month. “It’s going to be a struggle to build myself a pair of boots when there are four—soon five—girls in the house wanting new boots,” he says. “One day I’ll have my own pair.”

Gauteraux works purely on commission and usually only has time for about 10 pairs of boots a year. They start at $7,500 a pair, which makes owning one of his creations very exclusive—think of them more as wearable art than boots—but that price also comes with some exclusive perks, including the initial design of the boot. “I have two rules: First,
I measure and design a pair of boots with the client in person. It helps getting to know them and making sure they like the design,” he says. “And second, when I’m done I deliver them in person in a cedar box. It’s one of the highlights of my job to see someone put a pair on for the first time. It inspires me to keep working.”—

For more information about Ryder Gauteraux visit www.gauterauxgalleries.com