Many of us are familiar with catchy Texas slogans like “Don’t Mess with Texas,” or “Everything’s Bigger in Texas,” but one could also easily be “State of the Arts.” The arts are a staple in the second-largest state in the country, and there’s a special pulse for art of the Western genre. Artists and art collectors are continuously drawn to the unique landscape of the state, including coastal and desert scenes, prairies and grasslands, not to mention the vast, historical richness in the land. 
Downtown Houston. Courtesy Visit Houston. Photo by Kreative Studio; Pavel Kaplun.
Amid the beauty of Texas are a variety of artists, galleries and museums. Destinations like the National Ranching Heritage Center, a museum and historical park on the Texas Tech University campus. Besides their 44,000-square-foot museum, seven galleries and historical park, they also host events such as the Summer Stampede Art and Gear Show in the popular Lubbock Cultural District. While this year will be a virtual event from June 4 through June 6, many are excited to view more than 30 artists and gear makers.
Austin Tour Company. Courtesy Visit Austin.
The Museum of Western Art, in Kerrville “preserves and promotes the heritage of the American West,” and does so by exhibiting works by contemporary, traditional and historical works of art. They invite the public to be a part of their mission to authentically represent life of the West, “in both its historic and contemporary context.” The Museum of the Big Bend in the scenic town of Alpine also hopes to educate with culture and history, but also with a focus on the Big Bend region of Texas and Mexico. Every year, the museum presents a Western art and custom cowboy gear exhibition and sale known as Trappings of Texas. There’s a lot of excitement for the event, filled with trail rides, preview showings, a grand opening sale and reception, along with many other fun-filled happenings.
Couple at InSight Gallery. Courtesy of Fredericksburg Convention & Visitor Bureau. Photo by Blake Mistich.
Continue reading through this section to get insights into additional Texas events such as the Stamford Art Show, the third longest-running Western art show in the U.S., organized by the Stamford Art Foundation; and the Bosque Arts Center in Clifton, which will be hosting their 36th annual Bosque Art Classic, a juried art show and sale.
Texas artists to watch for in this section are Douglas Clark, Chuck and Barbara Mauldin and Sherry Harrington with her beautifully rendered paintings of Native American figures of the West. Galleries to visit are InSight Gallery in Fredericksburg and Artspace111 in Fort Worth, which specializes in contemporary Texas art. Heritage Auctions also has sales dedicated to the art of Texas that “capture the spirit of elite artists of the state.”
Cowboy with a Snake, oil on canvas, 60 x 48”, by Jon Flaming.
Artspace111
111 Hampton Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 692-3228, www.artspace111.com
Located in downtown Fort Worth, Artspace111 specializes in the exhibition of contemporary Texas art. In 1980, twin brothers Daniel and Dennis Blagg established Artspace111, converting a historic 1911 building into artist studios and a small gallery space in order to support and celebrate the work of local artists.
In the years since, the studio has evolved into a celebrated and distinguished 3,000-square-foot art gallery. In addition to the year-round schedule of solo and group exhibitions, the Artspace111 team designs corporate and private art collections for clients throughout the country and hosts special events in its distinctive gallery and sculpture gardens. The gallery is dedicated to making contemporary art approachable to individuals of all ages.
Lone Rider, acrylic on canvas, 48 x 60”, by Jon Flaming
Represented artist Jon Flaming “has never looped a lasso over a stampeding steer,” says Pam LeBlanc in an article from Texas Monthly. “He has never pressed a hot branding iron onto a calf’s flank, or mended a barbed wire fence on a sprawling ranch. But look at his stylized paintings—big, bold canvases featuring geometric cowboys cradling calves, riding horses and crouching by campfires—and you’ll taste the blowing dust and smell the cow manure. At the same time, his work evokes elements of cubism, modernism and contemporary design. It’s like a Texan moseyed into an old Works Progress Administration poster, lit up a cigarette and stared into the future.”
Horse in the Desert, oil on canvas, 60 x 48”, by Jon Flaming
Collectors looking for contemporary Western works should visit the gallery website and Instagram to see image details of online and in-person available works.
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InSight Gallery, Breaking Away, oil, 48 x 86”, by Robert Pummill.
InSight Gallery
214 W. Main Street, Fredericksburg, TX 78624,
(830) 997-9920
info@insightgallery.com
www.insightgallery.com
At 85, Robert Pummill seems to be having almost too much fun in his career. Painting seven days a week and, as of late, incredibly large-scale works. Most recently, the octogenarian has completed a series of 48-by-86-inch, masterwork-size Westerns. He vacillates between painting Western subject matters and the landscapes of the Texas Hill Country, his home for the last 30-plus years. 
InSight Gallery, Dawn in the Texas Hills, oil, 50 x 66”, by Robert Pummill
Pummill has never been one to shy away from a challenge and part of what intrigues him about these large-scale works is the forethought and planning that goes into each piece. From the logistics of stretching the sizable canvases on his own, to planning the composition with a series of sketches and value studies, every step is a piece of the puzzle that Pummill delights in solving. When asked if he plans to slow down any time soon, he responds, “People retire so they can paint. That’s already what I get to spend my time doing, so why would I think about retirement?!” 
Interior view of InSight Gallery.
Robert Pummill is one of 60 nationally recognized artists represented at InSight Gallery. With a large variety of styles and subject matters, the gallery’s focus is on traditional, representational work in Western, landscape, still life, wildlife, sporting, figurative and Native American subjects. Housed in an immaculately restored 8,000-square-foot historic building in charming Fredericksburg, Texas, InSight Gallery offers a museum-like atmosphere for art lovers to enjoy.
For those unable to travel at this point, the gallery keeps their website updated in real time. Their friendly staff strives to make everyone feel comfortable whether they are seasoned collectors or just getting started on their collecting journey.
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Heritage Auctions, The Afternoon Walk, tile, 39 3/8 x 55 1/8", by Robert Jenkins Onderdonk (1852-1917).
Heritage Auctions
2801 W. Airport Freeway Dallas, Texas 75261
(877) 437-4824, www.ha.com
The state of Texas has a long tradition of a pioneering spirit, a characteristic that shines through in the works produced by artists from the Lone Star State, that will be offered in Heritage Auctions’ Texas Art Auction on May 22.
“The Texas art market is very strong, and Texas art auctions at Heritage are diverse events that capture the spirit of elite artists across the state,” says Heritage Auctions Texas art director Atlee Phillips. “Collectors can find a wide range of Texas art in this sale, from Texas regionalists to abstract expressionists. It has been particularly gratifying to see the Texas art world evolve with the world around us. The challenges that we all have faced over the last year have done nothing to diminish the demand for elite Texas art, and in response, our clients are embracing the options to expand their collections through online bidding.”
Heritage Auctions, Red Wings in a Storm (diptych), oil on canvas, 62½ x 36", by Billy Hassell.
Among the highlights in the sale is Robert Jenkins Onderdonk’s The Afternoon Walk, estimated between $25,000 and 35,000. Sometimes overshadowed by his more famous son, Julian Onderdonk, the artist is the subject of eager bidding by collectors, especially for works of such large size created on tile. The offered lot is extraordinary in that the tiles were separated and then meticulously put back together by the previous owner.
Heritage Auctions, Late Afternoon Autumn, Staten Island, c. 1904, oil on board, 4¾ x 7 7/8", by Julian Onderdonk (1882-1922).
From Julian Onderdonk comes Late Afternoon Autumn, Staten Island, circa 1904 ($5/7,000). Onderdonk inherited his father’s enthusiasm for sketching and drawing, and was in New York from many years. The offered painting comes directly from the artist’s granddaughter, Eleanor Gould Onderdonk Limpert.
Billy Hassell’s Red Wings in a Storm (diptych) ($6/8,000), comes from one of the state’s beloved contemporary artists, an abstract expressionist known for his work with the Botanic Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) and his paintings of Texas wildlife, including birds.
For images and information on all lots in the auction, visit Heritage Auctions’ website.
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Chuck Mauldin, Schubert Street House, oil, 9 x 12”
Chuck and Barbara Mauldin
www.chuckmauldin.com
www.barbaramauldinart.com
For Texas artists Chuck and Barbara Mauldin, painting remains a shared passion and important pursuit despite the distractions over the past months. The good ol’ Texas landscape calls for paintings, even when unusual winter events descend. Light and shadow inspire his compositions, while color motivates hers.
Barbara Mauldin, Sun Day, oil, 16 x 12”
Both Barbara and Chuck find their inspiration in the typical scenery along Texas back roads. Afternoon light washing across pastures and cattle, intricate shadow patterns on a patch of rugged prickly pear and an interesting silhouette of an old live oak tree can be an ordinary part of an ordinary day in the Texas Hill Country, but these things inspire their artistic spirits. They often climb into the red truck with their painting gear or a camera, in search of that charismatic cactus, subtle colors on a steer or the quintessential rusty roof on an old barn. 
Chuck Mauldin, Young Charolais, oil, 8 x 10”
Barbara and Chuck feel that their paintings record the countryside as they see it, an area replete with colors, a variety of plants, trees and flowers, friendly livestock and old ranching structures. They depict scenes from ridges, looking toward distant hazy hills, as well as more intimate scenes along brushy creeks. Every painting is an opportunity to start a conversation between the artist and the viewer; a conversation about a familiar scene in which the artist points to a part of the scene that was special.
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Museum of the Big Bend, Winter in Texas, 1942, dry point etching, 3 x 4”, by James Swann (1905-1985). Gift of Judy and Stephen Alton, Museum of the Big Bend collection.
Museum of the Big Bend
400 N. Harrison Street, Alpine, TX 79832
(432) 837-8145, www.museumofthebigbend.com
For more than a century, some of the best Texas-based artists have traveled to the Big Bend of Texas to experience its vast desert landscape and wide-open skies. Artists have explored from the Rio Grande to the majestic Davis Mountains, recording their impressions on canvas and paper.
The “Dean of Texas Painters,” Frank Reaugh, led art groups out to West Texas in the early 20th century. The establishment of Sul Ross Normal in 1920 included art classes for the students working on their teaching degrees, leading to the creation of an art department led by artists Mabel Vandiver, Anna E. Keener and Elizabeth Keener. 
Museum of the Big Bend, Mitre Peak, ca. 1930s, oil on canvas, 60 x 84”, by Julius Woeltz (1911-1956). Museum of the Big Bend collection.
Museum of the Big Bend, Davis Mountains, 1922, watercolor, 19 x 19”, by Mabel Vandiver (1886-1991). Fort Hays State College collection, Hays, Kansas.By 1932, a summer art colony was established and was incredibly successful for the fledging college. Through 1950, Texas regional artists, including Julius Woeltz, Xavier Gonzalez, Otis Dozier, William Lester and Harry Anthony DeYoung, taught during the summer sessions using the dramatic landscape to challenge themselves and their students.
The Sul Ross State University Art Department continues the tradition of bringing fine art instruction to the students and community through the commitment of the school’s current faculty members Carol Fairlie, Avram Dumitrescu and Andrew Teagarden.
“For those interested in learning about a century of fine art in Texas, from the novice to the long-time collector, this exhibit is a must see,” says Mary Bones, director of the Museum of the Big Bend. “Great works by both the instructors and their students, showcasing their skills and love for the Big Bend.”
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National Ranching Heritage Center, Nite Latch, bronze, 14½ x 11 x 8”, by Harold T. Holden.
National Ranching Heritage Center
3121 Fourth Street, Lubbock, TX 79409
www.ranchingheritage.org/stampede
Nearly 100 pieces of Western art and gear by about 30 artists and craftsmen will be available for sale online and in person Saturday, June 5, during the Summer Stampede Art and Gear Show at the National Ranching Heritage Center in Lubbock, Texas.
Collectors looking for new art pieces should consult the website to see details of online and in-person sales and view photographs of sale items, including paintings, sculptures, photographs, jewelry and ranching gear (spurs, bits, buckles, knives). 
National Ranching Heritage Center, Sport Rodeo, oil on linen, 16 x 20”, by Rosie Sandifer.
Viewers can expect work from artists such as Rosie Sandifer of Santa Fe, New Mexico, who enjoys being in the audience of the action-packed annual Santa Fe rodeo. She brought the action of bulldogging from the arena to the canvas with her painting Sport Rodeo.
Harold T. Holden, an award-winning sculptor from Enid, Oklahoma, likes to create emotion and energy that mimic real life. Nite Latch is a bronze appropriately named after the safety strap attached to a saddle to help a rider stay on a contrary horse.
National Ranching Heritage Center, Good Medicine, photograph, 24 x 36”, by Emily McCartney.
Photographer Emily McCartney of Throckmorton, Texas, was camping on the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in southern Oklahoma, when she woke up at sunrise to see a bull bison in the red stem grass. Good Medicine captures the majesty of the buffalo in what was once his natural habitat.
Although the NRHC only sells art once a year in June, Western art is on exhibit throughout the year. The center features a 44,000-square-foot museum with seven galleries and a 19-acre outdoor historical park with 52 authentic ranch structures dating between 1780 and the mid-1950s.
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Douglas B. Clark, Old Rip, bronze on granite, ed. of 20, 24½ x 13 x 13”
Douglas B. Clark
doug@douglasbclark.com
www.douglasbclark.com
The sculptures of Douglas B. Clark are primarily inspired by the unique wildlife and cultures of Texas, the artists home state. This is especially true of two of the artist’s newest pieces, Old Rip and Escaramuza.
The first is inspired by the story of Old Rip, a horned toad that was supposedly placed in the cornerstone of the Eastland County Courthouse, Texas, in 1897. In 1928, when the courthouse was renovated, Old Rip, named after the famous sleeper Rip Van Winkle, was discovered alive inside. Clark’s sculpture represents Old Rip as an elderly horned toad Texas gentleman. Clark was eager to create this sculpture because he grew up in Fort Worth, east of Eastland, hearing about Old Rip and because the horned toad is the mascot of Texas Christian University where the artist graduated.
Douglas B. Clark, Escaramuza, bronze on granite, ed. of 50, 5¼ x 6 x 3”
Escaramuza is created in honor of the Hispanic culture of Texas and Mexico. This equestrian sculpture represents the escaramuza charra, an event for women in the Mexican charrería. The women ride side saddle wearing traditional dresses and sombreros and compete in teams of 16, riding in formation. The sport, which originated on the haciendas of Mexico, has become popular in Texas and across the United States and Canada.
These new sculptures, along with Clark’s other pieces, introduce the viewer to glimpses of the American West. They may not all be as familiar, and yet they are authentic representations of a region we love and wish to preserve.
Clark’s bronzes are found in galleries across the West and in New York. He encourages collectors to visit his website for additional information.
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Museum of Western Art, Mexican Charro, oil, 38 x 25½”, by William Herbert “Buck” Dunton (1878-1936).
Museum of Western Art
1550 Bandera Highway, Kerrville, TX 78028
(830) 896-2553
www.museumofwesternart.com
The Museum of Western Art is dedicated to excellence in the collection, preservation and promotion of Western heritage, and the education and cultural enrichment of diverse audiences.
In preserving and promoting the heritage of the American West, the museum is committed to exhibiting the very finest artwork, including art created by today’s well-known Western artists.
Temporary exhibits feature famous masters of the past, regional artists, artifacts from the era and historical explorations of the region’s past. The museum’s goal is to represent authentically the life of the West, in both its historic and contemporary context.
Museum of Western Art, Long Way Home, watercolor, 7 x 4”, by Henry Farny (1847-1916).
Finally, in all that it does, the museum serves as a bridge between the past and the present, ensuring that the legacy of the American West will be preserved for the future. They invite their guests to be part of that mission. Experience the West as it was and as it is at the Museum of Western Art—where the legend lives.
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Sherry Harrington, Her Comfort, oil on panel, 18 x 14"
Sherry Harrington
www.sherryharrington.com
Even when the times are difficult, having the natural ability to paint is truly a gift. With the desire to paint people and discovering the colors and history of Native Americans, artist Sherry Harrington has led a lifetime of great adventures.
“It’s a pleasure to record the Native American culture and, in turn, introduce their traditions in my artwork to collectors,” says Harrington. “I have the opportunity to tell their story of past and present traditions to others. It always feels like such a win/win situation to be the middle person to employ the American Indian, to model their traditional lifestyles and later, introduce those interested in the stories of their culture. I’ve been blessed to call both my models and collectors my friends, and I’ve been given a lot of opportunity in my work from the friendship I’ve received.”
Sherry Harrington, Little Glow, oil on panel, 12 x 9"
This spring, Harrington will be participating in the 2021 Night of Artists show at the Briscoe Museum of Western Art in San Antonio, Texas. The show will include four paintings from her trip to South Dakota featuring models of the Lakota tribe, and one from a visit to Navajo friends at Four Corners. She will be present in representing her work on March 27, and all works of art will be displayed and available through May 2021.
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Bosque Arts Center, Give No Ground, graphite, sepia clay and watercolor, 12 x 24", by Matt Atkinson.
Bosque Arts Center
215 S. College Hill Drive, Clifton, TX 76634
(254) 386-6049, www.bosqueartscenter.org
With a 35-year history of celebrating excellence in representational art, the Bosque Arts Center Art Council has announced Tyler Crow, the youngest person ever inducted into the Cowboy Artists of America, as the 2021 judge for the 36th annual Bosque Art Classic.
Last year’s judge Bruce Greene, called the 2020 show a “beautiful grouping of art” and voiced his regrets at the inability to view the art live due to Covid-19. The Art Council hopes for a return to the full bonanza of events with an opening night ceremony on September 11 and public exhibition September 12 through 25. The deadline for entering the Bosque Art Classic, which awards $15,500 annually, is June 1.
Artists Joseph Barbieri and Matt Atkinson captured top honors last year. Barbieri’s Incoming won the John Steven Jones Purchase Award, while Atkinson, a past Jones winner, garnered the Art Patrons Purchase Award with Give No Ground, his watercolor of bison clashing.
“The challenge was to create a piece using only pencil and water media that still captured the life and excitement of the moment,” Atkinson says. “To do that, I used sepia clay as a form of watercolor to try to capture the grit and dust of that dramatic moment of impact.”
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Art Show & Sale featured artist Gary Ward in the quickdraw event from 2018.
Stamford Art Foundation
stamfordartfoundation@gmail.com
www.stamfordartfoundation.org
The Stamford Art Foundation in Stamford, Texas, is hosting its 47th Art Show & Sale from June 30 to July 3, in conjunction with the 91st Texas Cowboy Reunion. The Art Foundation dedicates its sale to the benefit of the West Texas Rehabilitation Center in Abilene, Texas, which serves individuals, children and families with a variety of outpatient healthcare services, regardless of their ability to pay.
The longest continuously running Western art show in Texas, the Art Show & Sale features Western artists from Texas, New Mexico and beyond. Stamford has been named the Western Art Show Capital of Texas. The foundation also hosts a preview party for a first look at the sale, which will be hosted on June 29, and will feature dinner, dancing and the unique quickdraw event.
Visit Stamford, home of the world’s largest amateur rodeo for the Western art experience of a lifetime. For more information, please visit the website. —
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