You can’t see the footprints, but they might as well be cast in concrete in the Wyoming soil. They are the faded memories of Thomas Moran, Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Hill, William Gollings, John Clymer, Conrad Schwiering and so many others. They painted the grandeur of the Cowboy State and today you can practically stand in their footsteps, breathe the same air, feel the same coolness on your skin and bear witness to the same land spread out in front of you. Be it the snow-dusted peaks of the Grand Tetons, the rocky outcroppings that look out over the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, the painted cliffs of Castle Rock on the Green River or the untamed wilderness of Antelope Butte—Wyoming is the land of artists, and the home of the giants of Western art. 
What’s remarkable about Wyoming is not only it’s deep history within the story of the West—for instance, trails into the territory were used by trappers and traders as early as 1812—but that even still today the state is so dedicated to its origin story, which is one of discovery and exploration, cowboys and cattle, and nature’s limitless beauty. There is also an abundance of Native American culture from the Arapaho, Cheyenne, Crow, Shoshone, Ute and other tribes and nations that have called Wyoming home for thousands of years. These rich histories can be felt in places like Cody, Cheyenne, Sheridan, Casper and the world-famous Jackson Hole, home to so much art and culture. The city—wedged between two national parks, Grand Teton and Yellowstone—only has a population of 10,500, but it balloons way past that every fall and spring as art enthusiasts descend into Jackson Hole to greet the artists, browse through the galleries and bid on some art.
Jackson Hole has the National Museum of Wildlife Art and the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival, which ends with the Jackson Hole Art Auction, but Wyoming is full of art events and art destinations: the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale and the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody; Cheyenne Frontier Days in the state’s capital; the Brinton Museum in Big Horn, near Sheridan. The Western aeshethic even carries over to the collectors in Wyoming, many who have Molesworth furniture in their bedrooms, antler chandeliers in their living rooms and Western art on their walls and mantles. In Wyoming, the West is right there in the footsteps—the old ones, and the new ones.
Art Cities To Explore
Jackson Hole
One of the crown jewels for Western art, Jackson Hole has an exciting gallery scene, as well as many museums and auctions that lure collectors of all stripes to this gorgeous destination.
Cody
Overflowing in cowboy history, Cody is home to many great artists and art venues, including the great Buffalo Bill Center of the West.
Sheridan
Known for its deep cowboy roots, Sheridan is also known for its rodeo traditions and the influence of Native American culture.
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Jackson Hole Art Auction, Stuff of Legends, 1999, acrylic on masonite, 22 x 30”, by Bob Kuhn (1920-2007). Estimate: $100/150,000
Jackson Hole Art Auction
130 E. Broadway Avenue, P.O. Box 1568, Jackson, WY 83001,
(866) 549-9278, www.jacksonholeartauction.com
Jackson Hole Art Auction specializes in both past and present masterworks of the American West. This encompasses a wide variety of genres from wildlife and sporting to landscapes and traditional Western works. Many of the pieces offered are being brought to market for the first time, having been in private collections for decades, in some cases. “We cherish the opportunity to share these important pieces with the public and to assist collectors in both buying and selling,” says Madison Webb, auction director.
Jackson Hole Art Auction, Above the Treeline, oil on canvas, 30 x 40”, by Carl Rungius (1869-1959). Estimate: $300/500,000
Webb adds, “Our sales feature both historic and contemporary pieces, with a wide range of styles and inspirations. From iconic wildlife masters like Carl Rungius, known for his impressionistic style and stunning accuracy, to master Western illustrators like John Clymer and Tom Lovell. This year’s auctions include an important selection from these artists and many more.”
With a deep-seated connection to the surrounding wildlife and Western heritage, Jackson Hole is ideally situated to offer those same genres of artwork, and they continue to see strong interest and market growth in those subjects. The 15th annual Jackson Hole Art Auction will take place on September 17 and 18 this year. 
Jackson Hole Art Auction, Buffalo Hunt, oil on canvas, 20 x 30”, by John Clymer (1907-1989). Estimate: $100/200,000
When collecting Western and wildlife art, Jackson Hole Art Auction believes the most important piece of advice is to buy what you love. “While historical significance, potential value growth, quality and condition are all important factors when making an art purchase, none of that matters if you don’t connect with the work on a deeper level. Start with an intellectual analysis of the work but ultimately buy with your heart.”
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Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, Heart of a Feather in All Kinds of Weather, oil, 31 x 42”, by Brandon Bailey.
Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale
836 Sheridan Avenue, Cody, WY 82414
(888) 595-8119, www.buffalobill.org
The Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale is back for their annual celebration of the arts this September in beautiful Cody, Wyoming. Influenced by the location and history of Cody, the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale is a nationally renowned art show and sale offering a broad range of stylistic interpretations of the American West. 
Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, Apsaalooke, bronze, 37 x 18 x 12", by Campbell Dosch.
Organized by the Cody Country Chamber of Commerce, the show and sale strives to support established and emerging Western artists, engage patrons of the arts and enliven the Cody community with events that provide education and entertainment, all of which benefit the prestigious Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody Country Chamber of Commerce and local art organizations.
With 11 new artists and 99 seasoned artists, visitors will see a total of 110 ways to interpret the American West. Events will begin Tuesday, September 14, with Painting on the Porch led by painter David Santillanes and continue throughout the week with Colorful Canvases led by artist Blake Neubert, along with a Thursday night Art Walk in downtown Cody. 
Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, Cowgirl’s Rope Trick, oil, 40 x 30", by Dennis Ziemienski.
The celebration will continue into Friday evening with the 40th Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale Live Auction, which will be offered both in-person and virtually, and the weeklong celebration will come to an end on Saturday morning with the ever-popular Quick Draw & Sale.
“We’re back in the saddle, so come ride with us this September!”
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Gallery view of the CFD Western Art Show.
Cheyenne Frontier Days Western Art Show & Sale
4610 Carey Avenue, Cheyenne, WY 82001
(307) 778-7200, www.cfdartshow.com
The artwork at the 2021 Cheyenne Frontier Days Western Art Show and Sale is a reflection of the American West, and what it means to be a person who is living, has lived or traveled through it. Collectors can expect a wide variety of Western art at the show ranging from traditional interpretations to contemporary imaginings. 
Cheyenne Frontier Days, The Gray Bronc, oil, 24 x 20", by Don Weller.
Two artists who have been with the show for several years and are popular with customers are Don Weller and E. Denney Neville. Weller is a watercolorist and mostly portrays horses, which comes as no surprise since he has worked with horses most of his life. Like in his piece The Gray Bronc, Weller focuses on horses with minimal detail to the background, thus you see the richness in color and detail in his horses.
Cheyenne Frontier Days, Golden Hour Sundown, oil 8 x 10", by E. Denney Neville.
Neville works in oil, and he notes that he is somewhere between realism and impressionism. He began his art career primarily with illustration and film animation, but after moving to Montana, his attention turned to landscapes. By bringing in small land details, with more detail in sky and cloud formations, his landscapes become soothing to the viewer.
In addition to these classic CFD Western Art Show artists, collectors can expect to see more contemporary works of art such as the vibrant wildlife auras created by Carrie Wild, or ledger art created by Talissa Abeyta of the Eastern Shoshoni and Northern Arapaho.
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The National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole.
National Museum of Wildlife Art
2820 Rungius Road, Jackson, WY 83001
(307) 733-5771, www.wildlifeart.org
National Museum of Wildlife Art, founded in 1987, is a world-class art museum holding more than 5,000 artworks representing wild animals from around the world. With the mission to impart knowledge and inspire appreciation of humanity’s relationship with wildlife and nature through art and education, the museum’s unsurpassed permanent collection chronicles much of the history of wildlife in art, from 2500 B.C. to the present. 
National Museum of Wildlife Art, Aerial Elite (ruby throated hummingbirds), bronze, 13 x 8”, by Ott Jones.
Western Visions is the National Museum of Wildlife Art’s largest and longest-running fundraiser and is one of the signature events of the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival. The Western Visions Art Exhibition will be open for viewing September 10 through October 2. Top contemporary wildlife artists and collectors from around the world will be congregating at the museum’s award-winning facility across from the National Elk Refuge for the Evening Sale on Thursday, September 16, 2021. 
National Museum of Wildlife Art, Evening Blush, acrylic, 36 x 36”, by Carrie Wild.
New this year, participants will be able to join the “intent to purchase” sale format simultaneously online. The event draws an international crowd to this critically acclaimed gathering and the online option will offer a greater reach to all art enthusiasts. During the Fall Arts Festival (and year-round), the museum is a hub for art lovers, wildlife, outdoor enthusiasts and more.
“We’re thrilled to have the highest number of artists there has ever been in the history of Western Visions,” says Michelle Dickson, director of programs and events. “This show always brings together such a high caliber of both traditional and contemporary art and it’s extraordinary to increase it even more.”
Other exhibitions include Un/Natural Selections: Wildlife in Contemporary Art, open through August 22, and Valued Species: Animals in the Art of Andy Warhol and Ai Weiwei on view through October 3.
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New West Fine Art Gallery, The Watchers I, oil and mixed oil media on linen, 76 x 94", by Connor Liljestrom.
New West Fine Art Gallery
98 Center Street, Jackson, WY 83001
(307) 730-9262, info@newwestfineart.com, www.newwestfineart.com
New West Fine Art Gallery represents the contemporary Western works of Connor Liljestrom, and focuses primarily on paintings, with some sculpture and wearable pieces. All works examine the West through a contemporary style. 
New West Fine Art Gallery, The Watchers II, oil and mixed oil media on linen, 76 x 94", by Connor Liljestrom.
Liljestrom, born in Jackson, Wyoming, graduated with a BA in fine art from the University of Wyoming in 2019, where he gained recognition through scholarship award, portfolio review and residency selection. Since, his works have sold out at solo exhibitions and have been collected privately both nationally and internationally. His stand-out, emergent success has supported the establishment of an exclusive partnership with New West Fine Art. His solo exhibitions with the gallery include The Last of the Old West.
New West Fine Art Gallery, Fit for a Queen, oil and mixed oil media on linen, 76 x 74", by Connor Liljestrom.
His work references mythologies, Hollywood and pop culture, natural history, colonialism and the canon of Western-centric art history. Liljestrom layers these references such that a platform for the viewer is created to either enter conversation centered around these subjects, or be introduced to them for the first time altogether. He works primarily in oil and mixed oil media, and lives and works in Jackson.
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Gallery Wild in Jackson.
Gallery Wild
80 W. Broadway Avenue, Jackson, WY 83001
(307) 203-2322, info@gallerywild.com, www.gallerywild.com
Gallery Wild showcases contemporary fine art inspired by wildlife and wild places. Owned and operated by Jackson Hole-based wildlife painter Carrie Wild and her husband, wildlife photographer Jason Williams. The gallery’s works and philosophy are inspired by thousands of hours in the field observing, studying and falling in love with all things wild. 
Gallery Wild, Crystalline, oil on canvas, 48 x 48”, by Silas Thompson.
From the smallest bird to the biggest moose, Gallery Wild artists produce work inspired by actual subjects, roaming the wild and making lives richer. The gallery’s mission is to inspire collectors and impassion others to help protect wildlife and wild places for generations.
Gallery Wild also features a working artist studio where Carrie Wild and visiting gallery artists showcase their techniques and share their processes with visitors.
Artists new to the gallery this summer are Nealy Riley, Nina Tichava, Ron Russon, Carrie Penley and Kristine Taylor. Upcoming shows include Jennifer Johnson and Jeremy Bradshaw in Lasting Impressions, from July 2 through July 11; a solo show for Matt Flint, In the Light, July 16 to 26; and Amber Blazina rounds out July with her show Materialize, from July 29 to August 8. All shows will have an artist reception from 1 to 7 p.m. the opening day.
Gallery Wild, Summer Song, mixed media on panel, 36 x 36”, by Matt Flint.
Jenna Von Benedikt’s solo show Daydreams and Night Skies, will be August 5 through 16, Followed by Carrie Penley’s first solo show at Gallery Wild, Chronicles from the West, August 19 to 29. September’s Fall Arts Festival is always a busy week of events at Gallery Wild, so be sure to check out their website for show listings.
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Den Schofield, High Country, oil on canvas, 30 x 40"
Den Schofield
Riverton, WY, (307) 240-1673
denschofield@gmail.com, www.denschofield.com
Den Schofield is a graduate of the Philadelphia College of art and was born and raised in Philadelphia. As an illustration major, Schofield found national work in the education market. He also did work for Australia and Japan, as well as several Western covers out of Chicago.
Den Schofield, Ready to Trap, oil on canvas, 11 x 14"
Schofield has read and traveled widely throughout the Western United States. Although he married late, the artist’s wife, Mary, insisted that they move to Wyoming. He has always loved the American West of the 19th century, and has developed a reputation for accuracy.
This accuracy can be clearly seen in works such as High Country, showing a bearded hunter on a horse riding through cliffs and boulders. His piece Ready to Trap is another deeply realistic rendering of a bearded man with a rifle over his shoulder, against a clouded background, and clearly ready to trap.
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Sonja Caywood, Gertie in the Golden Grass, oil and gold leaf, 36 x 24"
Sonja Caywood
P.O. Box 83, Dayton, WY 82836
(307) 751-8216, www.sonjacaywood.com
Growing up ranching gives Sonja Caywood experiential understanding of the animals she paints, allowing her to push the boundaries of representational imagery. She paints expressive oil portraits of livestock and wildlife, imparting personality that people can relate to.
“Rather than telling everything in tight detail, I want viewers to be surprised as they approach my work closely, where the image transforms into abstract shapes and playful brushstrokes,” Caywood explains. “This ‘space’ for viewer interpretation makes my paintings sort of multi-dimensional. For this reason, my work is best seen in person, as photographs depict only a midpoint in this dichotomy of realism and expressionism.”
Caywood is drawn to the innocent curiosity of animals. Many artists have to travel to find the subject matter that Caywood is surrounded by in northern Wyoming. While still in “cow country,” Sheridan County’s becoming a thriving community of arts and art lovers; home to writers, musicians, thespians, chefs, film-makers, designers, makers of saddles, ropes and bits and visual artists of all sorts. “I was born here, and am blessed to call it home,” says Caywood.
The artist tells collectors to “go with their heart and not the color of their couch.
I remember the few paintings I loved but didn’t buy. They grow more and more beautiful in my mind as time passes.”
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The Brinton Museum, Walking in Dreams, oil, 24 x 12", by Jordyn Payne.
The Brinton Museum
239 Brinton Road, P.O. Box 460
Big Horn, WY 82833, (307) 672-3173
info@thebrintonmuseum.org, www.thebrintonmuseum.org
Situated at the base of the Bighorn Mountains along Little Goose Creek, The Brinton Museum contains a world-class collection of American Indian art and Western art. The preserved, historic ranch house showcases Bradford Brinton’s collection of art, rare books and fine furnishings.
The Brinton Museum, Sunday Matinee, oil on linen, 24 x 24", by T. Allen Lawson.
In 2021, the Brinton Museum is featuring photogravures by Edward S. Curtis and paintings by Wyoming artists T. Allen Lawson and Robert Martinez. The annual Bighorn Rendezvous, featuring a quick-draw event, will be held on August 21. After viewing our stunning art, take a walk around the manicured gardens and nature trails, and then enjoy lunch on the patio with the best view in the area.
The Brinton Museum represents the best of Wyoming. —
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