After the obvious “everything’s bigger in Texas” expression, if there’s one thing people imagine when thinking of the Lone Star State, it’s that signature Western landscape. Home of Big Bend National Park in western Texas, Caprock Canyons State Park in the north, and Texas Hill Country in the central part of the state, the geological diversity—as well as the state’s frontier history—has inspired artists for centuries. 
A view of the Briscoe Western Art Museum grounds in San Antonio, Texas. Courtesy Briscoe Western Art Museum.
The Museum of Western Art in Kerrville pays homage to cowboy artists working from the mid-20th century to today. With a collection of nearly 150 sculptures and 250 paintings, the museum represents the likes of the Taos Society of Artists like Oscar E. Berninghaus and Eanger Irving Couse, as well as many other greats such as Joe Beeler, George Phippen and dozens more.
Heading way out west to the city of Alpine, the cultural center of the Big Bend area, is the Museum of the Big Bend. The museum hosts Western art exhibits throughout the year, including the annual Trappings of Texas, showcasing contemporary Western art and custom cowboy gear. This year’s event runs April 16 to 18.
The island city of Galveston’s downtown area. Courtesy Visit Houston.
The National Ranching Heritage Center, located toward the center of the state in Lubbock, is a museum and 19-acre outdoor park with 50 historic structures dating back to the 1700s. The Heritage Center also has 42 life-size bronze outdoor pieces as well as a 44,000-square-foot museum space with seven galleries. Within those galleries, visitors can explore a variety of art and artifacts that tell the stories of Western culture, both historic and contemporary.
There really is no shortage of places to explore throughout this massive state that engage one’s Western sensibilities, from the discerning collector to the casual viewer. Texan artists capturing the wildness of the West include Chuck and Barbara Mauldin, Douglas B. Clark, Kathy Tate and Sharon Standridge. Top Western art galleries and other arts institutions based in the Lone Star State include RS Hanna Gallery, Southwest Gallery, InSight Gallery, Heritage Auctions and Bosque Arts Center.
The Museum of the Big Bend in Alpine, Texas. Photo by Wilson Photographs.
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Heritage Auctions
3500 Maple Avenue, Dallas, TX 75219
(877) 437-4824, www.ha.com
Art collectors have an array of outstanding auctions from which to choose this spring at Heritage Auctions, the largest fine art and collectibles auctioneer founded in the United States.
Heritage Auctions’ Fine Art department encompasses a number of genres, including but not limited to American, Texas, Western and Californian art. The department topped $60 million in total sales in 2019, a jump of approximately 20 percent over 2018.
Heritage Auctions, The Liar’s Hour, oil on Masonite, 30 x 48”, by Charlie Dye (1906-1972). Estimate: $60/80,000
Among the featured spring sales are the May 1 American Art Auction and the May 2 Texas Art Auction, each of which will be held in Dallas. Top Western lots in the American Art sale include The Lewis Crossing by John Clymer (est. $80/120,000) and The Liar’s Hour by Charlie Dye (est. $60/80,000) and many others. 
Heritage Auctions, The Lewis Crossing, oil on board, 24 x 40”, by John Clymer (1907-1989). Estimate: $80/120,000
The Texas Art auction highlights exceptional artwork from the Lone Star State, including work by the likes of David Bates, Lee Smith and Billy Hassell. Early Texas art still has a strong following, and numerous paintings that have been sold through Heritage Auctions have been actively pursued and now reside in institutions, so they are rarer than they once were. But Heritage is now embracing the rise of contemporary art in which a new generation of young collectors is building collections as their interest grows. Among the top lots are a pair of works by Dallas-born Bates, including Sealife and Crab Legs, 1984, each of which carries a pre-auction estimate of $30,000 to $50,000.
A view of Heritage Auctions’ building in Dallas, Texas.
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InSight Gallery
214 W. Main Street, Fredericksburg,
TX 78624, 830-997-9920
info@insightgallery.com
www.insightgallery.com
InSight Gallery represents a select group of the finest painters and sculptors living and working today in landscape, figurative, impressionistic, still life, wildlife and Western art. The gallery is dedicated to bringing only the highest quality of fine art to the Texas Hill Country and the national art market. Artists of note include David Leffel, John Coleman, Daniel F. Gerhartz, Mian Situ, Jeremy Winborg, Robert Pummill, Bruce Greene, Sherrie McGraw, Michelle Dunaway, Tom Browning, Eldridge Hardie, Francois Koch, Robert Moore and Jason Rich among others.
An indoor view of InSight Gallery located in Fredericksburg, Texas.
Beginning April 3, oil painters Brian Grimm and David Griffin come together in an exhibition with their artistic renderings of the West, titled The West and the Wild, which will be on display at InSight Gallery through April 24. Grimm, inspired by an upbringing immersed in nature, captures the wildlife of North America, portrayed with stunning clarity against the looser, more impressionistic backgrounds of their surroundings. Griffin draws his inspiration from the land. His landscapes often have a tonal, earthy quality to them with brushwork that distinguishes his art from those around him.
InSight Gallery, Keepin’ to Higher Ground, oil, 40 x 46”, by Robert Pummill.
InSight Gallery, Anasazi Vase, Mayan Plate and Chinese Lanterns, oil, 18 x 22”, by David Leffel.
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RS Hanna Gallery
244 W. Main Street, Fredericksburg, TX
(830) 307-3071, info@rshannagallery.com
www.rshannagallery.com
RS “Shannon” Hanna has an experienced eye for art. She worked with G. Harvey’s family gallery for a dozen years before co-founding InSight Gallery for a year, then moving on to open RS Hanna Gallery in 2011. Supporting fine working artists drawn from her group of 60, plus the work of hundreds of artists from all over the country in juried national competitions, is her driving focus in bringing artist and collector together.
RS Hanna Gallery, Touch of Glory, pastel, 16 x 16", by Denise LaRue Mahlke.
The gallery is housed in a beautifully restored historic two-story building on Main Street, with multiple rooms and a patio downstairs and a large veranda/balcony overlooking the street with room for a crowd. A gathering spot for artists and exhibitions with activities throughout each show including live music and a reception open to the public. 
RS Hanna Gallery, Hilltop Cactus, oil, 14 x 18", by Barbara Mauldin.
Among a variety of events and exhibitions held at RS Hanna Gallery throughout the year is the Oil Painters of America 29th National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils from May 15 to June 13.
New artists added to the gallery include Jeff Gottfried, Barbara Mauldin, Chuck Mauldin, Kris Henderson, Arthur McCall, John DeFrance, Kathryn Galbraith, Bob Bradshaw and Cheryl Koen.
RS Hanna Gallery, New Every Morning, pastel, 19 x 28", by Denise LaRue Mahlke.
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Southwest Gallery
4500 Sigma Road, Dallas, TX
(972) 960-8935
sales@swgallery.com
www.swgallery.com
Located near the shops of the Galleria, Southwest Gallery offers Dallas’ largest collections of fine 19th- to 21st-century paintings and sculptures in all styles. Celebrating more than 50 years of serving the art needs of Dallas, the gallery represents hundreds of established Western artists such as John Cook, Dalhart Windberg, Xiang Zhang and has recently highlighted prominent new wildlife sculptures by Raymond Gibby. Find thousands of stunning works of art, from antique to contemporary, all in a huge 16,000- square-foot gallery space.
Southwest Gallery, Lookin’ for Trouble, oil on canvas, 30 x 40”, by Tom Dorr.
Whether a beginner or experienced art collector, Southwest Gallery strives to share how art is made and the artist behind the work for a more informed buying experience. In the coming months look for show exhibiting new works by contemporary sculptor Nic Noblique in April. May brings Russian impressionists Igor Samsonov and Olga Suvorava. Then, in June, meet Jean Claude Gaugy out of Santa Fe.
Southwest Gallery, Under the Blue Texas Skies, oil on canvas, 36 x 48”, by George Kovach.
Southwest Gallery, Lookin’ Back, oil on canvas, 48 x 36”, by John Cook.
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Chuck and Barbara Mauldin
www.chuckmauldin.com
www.barbaramauldinart.com
Represented by RS Hanna Gallery:
www.rshannagallery.com
Everything Texas is fair game for Fredericksburg oil painters Barbara and Chuck Mauldin. Plenty of outdoor painting has honed their skills for tackling larger work in their shared studio. The hill country landscapes provide continuous inspiration for the two artists, with Chuck focusing more recently on cows and Barbara on cacti. Light and shadow usually dominate their compositions, while rich but harmonious color conveys their emotional connection to the story told on canvas. Confident brushwork anchors each unique style. Their traditional Texascapes Show will skip this year as RS Hanna Gallery, which represents the artists, hosts several national shows, including the Oil Painters of America’s National Juried Exhibition in May.
Barbara Mauldin, Leaf Litter, oil, 24 x 20"
Chuck Mauldin, Nap Time, oil, 12 x 16"
Chuck Mauldin, Hungry Herd, oil, 40 x 30"
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Museum of Western Art
1550 Bandera Highway, Kerrville, TX
78028, (830) 896-2553
www.museumofwesternart.com
Situated high on a hill overlooking the city of Kerrville, the bold structure of the Museum of Western Art was designed by famed Texas architect O’Neil Ford and features a rugged hacienda-type exterior and manicured grounds graced by larger-than-life size bronzes.
An outdoor view of the Museum of Western Art, featuring Fred Fellows’ bronze An Honest Day’s Work.
The 14,000-square-foot interior space houses an impressive permanent collection of paintings and sculptures, all done by past and present renowned Western artists. Distinctive handcrafted Boveda ceilings, end-cut mesquite wood and Saltillo tile flooring combine with a multitude of Western artifacts and priceless art to leave a lasting impression on all who visit this Hill Country treasure. 
Museum of Western Art, Men to Match My Mountains, 46 x 61”, by Harvey O. Young (1840-1901).
Upcoming shows at the museum include Men to Match My Mountains: Works from the L.D. “Brink” Brinkman Foundation from April 3 to June 13; Looks Like We’ll Just Have to Tighten Our Belts Again: The Art of Gene Zesch from June 19 to August 1; Robert Pummill: Texas Landscapes and Legacy happening August 7 to September 18; and the 37th Annual Roundup Exhibition and Sale September 24 to October 31.
Museum of Western Art, The Marshal, polychrome bronze, 1981, by Harry Jackson (1924-2011).
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National Ranching
Heritage Center
3121 Fourth Street, Lubbock, TX 79409
(806) 742-0498, ranchhc@ttu.edu
www.nrhc.ttu.edu
Western art and gear collectors have the opportunity not only to purchase new art pieces but also meet the artists at the Seventh Annual Summer Stampede Western Art and Gear Show from 6 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, at the National Ranching Heritage Center (NRHC) in Lubbock, Texas. The annual event highlights nearly 100 pieces of art and gear by more than 30 Western artists and craftsmen including paintings, jewelry and gear (spurs, stirrups, bits, buckles, knives). The art show is followed by both a dinner and dance to the Western swing music of Jake Hooker and The Outsiders. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the educational and restoration programs of the NRHC, a unique 27-acre indoor museum and outdoor historical park established to preserve and interpret the history of ranching.
National Ranching Heritage Center, Way Out West, oil on linen, 28 x 28”, by Rosie Sandifer.
Although the NRHC only sells art once a year in June, Western art in the form of paintings and sculptures are on exhibit in the museum galleries throughout the year. Supported by Texas Tech University and the Ranching Heritage Association, the center features a 44,000-square-foot museum with seven galleries and a 19-acre historical park with 51 authentic ranch structures from some of the nation’s most historic ranches.
The 2019 Summer Stampede exhibit gallery.
National Ranching Heritage Center, Hooked On, acrylic and colored pencil, 22 x 30”, by Mikel Donahue.
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Museum of the Big Bend
400 N. Harrison Street, Alpine, TX 79832
(432) 837-8143
www.museumofthebigbend.com
The Museum of the Big Bend in Alpine, Texas, is celebrating 34 years of honoring the art of the cowboy with its annual Trappings of Texas show and sale. Trappings features up-and-coming artists alongside established artists from Texas, the United States, Canada and Argentina. This show and sale features custom cowboy gear like mecates, saddles, bits and spurs alongside sculpture, etchings, watercolors, pastels and oils.
The 2020 Trappings of Texas premier artist is Brian Asher of Snyder, Texas. Other artists in this year’s event include Wayne Baize, Teal Blake, Phil Bob Borman, Loren Entz, Phil Epp, Billy Hassell and Donna Howell-Sickles. Gearmakers include Brooks Atwood, Rex Crawford, Shawn Didyoung, Wayne Franklin, Buddy Knight, Lloyd McConnell and John Nord.
Museum of the Big Bend, Rush Hour, pencil, 11½ x 21¾", by Brian Asher.
Other shows at the Museum of the Big Bend include Texas photographer Jerry Goodale, whose images of working cowboys in the Big Bend and across the state are on exhibit through May 17. An exhibition opening June 12 features photographs by Graciela Iturbide in partnership with the Witliff Collection, Albert B. Alkek Library, Texas State University, San Marcos, as they celebrate the art of Iturbide’s black-and-white photography of local people from Mexico. Alpine Photo Weekend, in partnership with the City of Alpine runs June 13 to 14. The museum’s fall exhibit, A Century of Fine Art, highlights 100 years of art at Sul Ross State University. 
The exterior of Museum of the Big Bend in Alpine, Texas.
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Bosque Arts Center
215 S. College Hill Drive, Clifton, TX 76634
(254) 675-3724, art@bosqueartscenter.org
www.bosqueartscenter.org
Every year talented artists from across the nation enter the Bosque Art Classic in hopes of winning one of the prizes offered in the Bosque Arts Center’s annual juried art show and sale. The exhibition, held in Clifton, Texas, and sponsored by the Art Council at the BAC, is celebrating its 35th anniversary.
Bosque Arts Center, All My Ex’s, graphite on Duralar, 18 x 22", by Cheryl Harley-Volz.
Bruce Greene will serve as the juror/judge for the 2020 Classic. A member of the Cowboy Artists of America since 1993, Greene has twice served as president. The Classic awards more than $15,000 to outstanding realistic and representational art in the categories of drawing, oil/acrylic, pastel, sculpture and water media. The juried entries for the show will be on display in the fall, September 12 to 26. In 34 years, the Classic has built an impressive permanent collection in the Jones Gallery of the BAC with its two purchase prizes. Last year Cheryl Harley-Volz captured the John Steven Jones Purchase Award for her graphite All My Ex’s.
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Kathy Tate
3178 County Road 184, Stephenville, TX 76401, (254) 968-4275
kathy@kathytate.com, www.kathytate.com
Sixth-generation Texan Kathy Tate began drawing and painting at an early age and later studied drafting and architectural design in college. With a love of family history and antiques, much of her still life work contains objects in her collection of antiques. Some of these items came with her family to Texas as members of Stephen F. Austin’s Old 300 in the early 1800s. Tate’s work also reflects her love of old and abandoned homesites and other structures. Upcoming shows for the artist include Bosque Arts Center Online Fine Art Auction, The Russell, Bosque Art Classic and Miniatures by the Lake at Coeur d’Alene Galleries in Coeur d’Alene Idaho. Her work is also available at Lost Creek Gallery in Calvert, Texas. Tate’s awards include the prestigious John Steven Jones Award at the Bosque Art Classic. Her work has been featured in Small Works, Great Wonders at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Briscoe Museum’s Night of Artists, American Women Artists, Oil Painters of America, and many shows throughout the country.
Kathy Tate, Canned Tomatoes, oil on panel, 12 x 16"
Kathy Tate, Closed for Business, oil on panel, 16 x 20"
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Sharon Standridge
studio@sharonstandridge.com
www.sharonstandridge.com
Represented by Beartooth Gallery
Sharon Brown Standridge was born in Denver and grew up in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, and later, on the open plains of Nebraska. Her grandfather, father and his five siblings were known as Tex Brown and His Little Buckaroos, the world’s youngest rodeo performers. As an artist, Standridge has followed the path of her rich Western heritage. “I am drawn to painting the American West, especially the era of the 1860 to 1890s,” she says. “People are my preferred subjects; sometimes cowboys, sometimes pioneer women and children. Most recently, my focus has been the Native Americans of the Plains—painting the daily tasks and duties of the women of the Plains and the adventures and challenges of the young braves and warriors. Through the years I have acquired a collection of clothing and accouterments of that time period…With each new painting there is always something added to the collection to further tell the story that I will be painting.” Standridge and her husband David have been long-time residents of North Texas.
Sharon Standridge, Gentle Breezes, oil on linen, 27 x 24"
Sharon Standridge, Cheyenne Warrior, oil on linen, 15½ x 12"
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Douglas B. Clark
www.douglasbclark.com
For Douglas B. Clark one of the best things about being a Texas artist is the abundance of reference material provided by his state’s unique history, wildlife and scenery, which is appreciated and recognized by Texans and non-Texans alike. Clark finds inspiration in his own city of Fort Worth and across the state. Some of his favorite subjects to sculpt are longhorns, horned toads, bison and armadillos. He also enjoys painting those animals as well as the landscapes of his state and the architecture of his city.
Douglas B. Clark, Mustang Spirit, bronze on granite, ed. of 25, 11 x 7½ x 5”
He will be participating in numerous shows across the state including the Texas Masters show at the InSight Gallery in Fredericksburg in March and Historic Fort Worth’s Preservation is the Art of the City show in September in Fort Worth. His work is exhibited in galleries across the United States from New Mexico to New York. 
Douglas B. Clark, The Right Spot, bronze on granite, ed. of 50, 12 x 17 x 7"
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