Featuring more than 300 works of art by 75 of the top Western artists working today, the annual Night of Artists exhibition and sale is returning to the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio, Texas. 

Like many shows over the past two years, the Night of Artists has had to make changes to its programming in 2020 and 2021, but this year’s show is expected to be a grand return, with a full slate of programming to complement the exhibition and sale. Jim Vogel, El Fronterizo, oil on canvas panel, 24 x 39”

Howard Post, Headed to the Rodeo, oil, 30 x 30”

George Hallmark, La Ventana Rosa, oil on linen, 24 x 20”

The museum kicks off the opening weekend the afternoon of March 25 with the Briscoe Collectors Summit, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., followed by the second half of the summit on March 26, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Moderated by Western Art Collector executive editor Michael Clawson, the summit will include panels that will have complementary themes: on Friday will be “Headin’ In,” which explores the changing nature of the Western art market as it relates to collectors who are selling their collections, and on Saturday is “Headin’ Out,” focusing on how new buyers can build their collections. Panel guests include artists George Hallmark and Jeremy Winborg, market insiders Katherine Halligan from Bonhams and Katherine Hlavin from Fighting Bear Antiques, and Medicine Man Gallery owner Mark Sublette.

March 25 will end with an exhibition preview dinner and a live auction of more than 30 works of art. Museum president and CEO Michael Duchemin says there was initial hesitancy with hosting a live auction a day before the exhibition’s sale, but recent years have shown that the auction jump-starts the weekend with a jolt. “We call it a pump primer, because people are there and they want to start buying some art, so rather than make them wait, we give them an opportunity. And even if some collectors would rather hold out for the main sale, the auction is still a fun event that gets the juices flowing,” he says. “The first time we did it there was a thought that the auction would take the wind out of our sails, but it was the opposite—it got everyone more excited.”Don Oelze, Scouts at the Old Mission, oil on linen, 46 x 38”

Donna Howell-Sickles, Afternoon Rein, acrylic on canvas, 36 x 58”

Teresa Elliott, Skinner, oil on linen on aluminum panel, 33 x 36”

Prior to the evening by-draw sale on March 26, there will be an awards luncheon at 11:30 a.m., followed by that evening’s festivities that begin at 5:30 p.m.

Artists at this year’s show include Martin Grelle, Billy Schenck, Z.S. Liang, George Hallmark, Kim Wiggins, C. Michael Dudash, Don Oelze, Teresa Elliott, Kenny McKenna, Jeremy Winborg, Gladys Roldán-de-Moras, Chris Hunt, Gary Lynn Roberts, Bonnie Marris, Bruce Cheever, Howard Post, Luke Frazier, William Haskell, Chad Poppleton and many others. New artists for the 2022 show are Nancy Dunlop Cawdrey, Brenda Kingery, David S. LaMure Jr., Joshua LaRock, Bruce Lawes, Jim Vogel and returning artists Teal Blake and Donna Howell-Sickles. Teal Blake, Panza, watercolor, 30 x 20”

Duchemin has already seen some impressive Texas-themed works and expects to see more to give local patrons, and those visiting the Lone Star State, that Texas flavor that is so unique in Western art. Among the new works, those inspired by Texas and not, are a fun donkey watercolor portrait by Blake, one of Howell-Sickles’ colorful and cheerful works of a cowgirl, and major new pieces showing Native American figures by Idaho painter Dudash. 

In Winborg’s A Light to His People, the artist paints a chief figure wearing a magnificent feathered headdress. “I was able to get my hands on this incredible headdress and wanted to showcase it in this painting. My model, who I met serendipitously while getting my car inspected, did an incredible job bringing it to life,” the artist says. “When this man and this headdress came together, it was like two long-lost pieces of the same puzzle finally finding each other.”Brent Cotton, Edge of the Forest, oil on board, 14 x 18”

C. Michael Dudash, Travelin’ Slow on a Tough Trail, oil on linen, 36 x 40”

Mary Ross Buchholz, Not Likin’ It, charcoal and graphite on gessoed ACM panel, 24 x 30½”

Among some of the newcomers to the show, collectors will likely be fascinated by the work of Vogel, who paints uniquely stylized human and animal forms; the detailed and richly painted works by LaRock, a portrait artist who has found a strong foothold in the Western art world; and the modern works of Chickasaw artist Kingery, who uses movement and color to tell stories related to her heritage and culture.

A returning artist coming back to Night of Artists is charcoal and graphite artist Mary Ross Buchholz, who will also be showing new sculpture at this year’s show. One of her newest works is Not Likin’ It, showing a rider preparing a horse. “My husband and three sons anxiously await starting our 2-year-old colts in a couple of months. It is always an exciting time, and I am at the ready with camera in hand to capture any exciting or worthwhile moments,” Buchholz says. “Not Likin’ It is a drawing of Bob throwing a saddle on one of our young fillies. Her ears are back, tail tucked and she is not quite sure what to expect as he throws the saddle on her back. Is she going to take it well or is she going to bolt forward?”Jeremy Winborg, A Light to his People, oil, 38½ x 36”

Joshua LaRock, Toward the Sun, oil, 30 x 30”

Nicholas Coleman, Campfire Stories, oil on linen, 36 x 48”

Another artist looking forward to showing new work in Texas is Nicholas Coleman, who will be presenting Campfire Stories, a large work with a beautiful sky over several Native American figures. “To me, the best part of a long day is by the fire,” Coleman says. “Warming up and recounting the day’s deeds and happenings. The living of an adventure is happily met around a crackling fire with friends and family. As the smoke rises, I can imagine that through the ages I’m not alone in my love of sitting around the campfire and telling stories!” —

Night of Artists
March 25-May 8, 2022
Opening weekend, March 25-26
Collector’s Summit, March 25, 1-2:30 p.m. and March 26, 9:30-11 a.m. (takes place at nearby Westin Riverwalk)
Exhibition preview dinner and live auction, March 25, 5:30 p.m.
Awards luncheon, March 26, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (takes place at nearby Westin Riverwalk)
Exhibition opening, art sale and reception, March 26, 5:30-10 p.m.
Briscoe Western Art Museum,
210 W. Market Street, San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 299-4499, www.briscoemuseum.org

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