Top women artists from throughout the West descended on Wickenburg, Arizona, on March 25 to open Cowgirl Up! Art From the Other Half of the West at the Desert Caballeros Western Museum. The annual event highlights some of the best women artists working today. 
Mejo Okon, Glow, oil on canvas, 38 x 49”The museum show kicks off with a series of events, including a miniature sale, the main sale of the larger works and a hugely popular paint-out event that ends with a live auction of the work that was created in front of live audiences. 
Kwani Povi Winder, Enlightened, oil and metal leaf on linen board, 28 x 20”
This year’s top award, the best in show, went to Mejo Okon for her large work Glow, featuring a portrait-like presentation of a longhorn cow. Other award winners were Lisa Danielle in the painting category, Stephanie Campos in the works on paper category, and Rebecca Tobey in sculpture. Veryl Goodnight won the museum purchase award for her painted work No Bed of Roses. Judith Durr won the governor’s choice award, which is chosen by Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, while Sherry Cobb-Kelleher won the patron’s choice award and Julie Nighswonger won the artists’ choice award.
Winning the director’s choice award was first-year participant Kwani Povi Winder, who also won the Western Art Collector Award of Excellence for her submitted body of work.
The work will remain on view, and unsold works available for purchase, through September 4. —
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