The Texas terrain is vast. The second largest state, behind only Alaska, Texas is divided into four major geographic regions: the Gulf Coastal Plains, Interior Lowlands, Great Plains, and the Basin and Range Province. Each of the physical locations present differing forms of the earth’s terrain and what the planet can offer.

A sprawling view of Enchanted Rock in Fredericksburg, Texas. Photo by J. Amill Santiago.The Gulf Coastal Plains—stretching across cities like San Antonio, Paris and Del Rio—is made up of numerous streams and rivers that flow into coastal estuaries. The seaward areas are made up of dunes, grasslands and salt marshes. The Great Plains, including the cities of Lubbock and Amarillo, feature such regions as the Panhandle, Toyah Basin and the famous Texas Hill Country, making up the southeastern part of the Edwards Plateau. The Hill Country, with its sprawling hills of wildflowers, cactus, yucca, juniper and oak trees, has been a massive source of inspiration to artists across the centuries, along with all of the state’s other geographic regions, from the North Central Plains to the Trans-Pecos region—home to national parks like Guadalupe Mountains National Park and Big Bend National Park.

A trail heading into the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park. Photo by Mick Haupt.It’s no wonder that some of the most sizable names in Western art were captivated by the Lone Star State: Porfirio Salinas, Robert William Wood, Julian Onderdonk, Frank Reaugh, José Arpa, Robert Pummill and many others. 

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Texas Artists to Know

Julian Onderdonk  (1882–1922), Bluebonnets at Late Afternoon, oil on cardboard, 9 x 12 in., signed bottom left: ‘Julian Onderdonk’ and on verso: ‘Blue-bonnets at Late Afternoon / San Antonio - Texas’. Public Domain.Julian Onderdonk

When imagining those vibrant bluebonnets, one can’t help but think of 19th/20th-century artist Onderdonk, whose oils Field of Bluebonnets (1916), Spring Twilight, Bluebonnets (1917) and Bluebonnets on a Misty Morning, San Antonio (1922) capture the state flower superbly. 

Frank Reaugh (1860-1945), The Approaching Herd, oil on canvas and board, 1902, inscribed bottom left: ‘bottom left: F. Reaugh / 02’. Public Domain.Frank Reaugh

Known as the “Dean of Texas Painters,” Reaugh was both a painter and a photographer, as well as an art instructor. In addition to his landscape paintings, the artist produced small plein air sketches in pastel of the iconic breed of cattle, the Texas Longhorn.

José Arpa
José Arpa, while born in Spain, traveled the United States and Mexico extensively. He was particularly captivated by the American Southwest and Texas and was known for his vivid paintings, use of bold color and ability to capture light.

Robert Pummill
Present-day painter Robert Pummill creates soft, detailed oil paintings of Texas’ wildflowers, prairies and coasts, as well as cowboys, buffalo and other icons of the West. The award-winning artist has spent most of his life in Texas.

Porfirio Salinas
Mexican-American artist Porfirio Salinas, born in 1910 in Bastrop, Texas, was an early Texas painter known for his impressionist landscapes. He famously captured the region’s vibrant bluebonnets, a source of inspiration for numerous artists, past and present. Salinas eventually met British-American painter Robert Wiliam Wood and became his studio assistant, where he received a great deal of his technical training.

Robert William Wood
Born at the turn of the 19th century, Robert William Wood was known for his depictions of natural settings he encountered in his travels across the United States, including the Rocky Mountains and Grand Tetons, the Catskill Mountains of New York, the California coast, the Cascades and, of course, the Texas Hill Country.

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Heritage Auctions
2801 W. Airport Freeway, Dallas, TX 75261,
(877) 437-4824, (214) 528-3500, www.ha.com 

A view of the exterior of Heritage Auctions. Photo credit: HA.com.Heritage Auctions is the third-largest auction house in the world with more than 40 different auction categories. It is headquartered in Dallas with offices also in New York, Chicago, Beverly Hills, San Francisco, London, Hong Kong and other cities. Its art and design categories include American art, Western art, Texas art, California art, Asian art, ethnographic art (American Indian, Pre-Columbian & Tribal), modern and contemporary art, European art, illustration art and more. Heritage is especially acclaimed for its work with American art.  

Heritage Auctions, A Quiet Outing, oil on canvas laid on board, 7½ x 10½ in., by Philip R. Goodwin (1881-1935). Part of Heritage Auctions’ In the Wild: The Work of Philip Goodwin from the Collection of the Mamaroneck Public Library Showcase Auction.Recent auctions have featured works by prominent names like Norman Rockwell, Mark Rothko, Maurice Sendak, Maynard Dixon, John Baldessari, Alexander Calder, David Hockney, Andy Warhol, Thomas Moran, Mary Cassatt and J.C. Leyendecker. In addition, auctions have offered works by Porfirio Salinas, the Onderdonk family, Alexandre Hogue, Dickson Reeder and George Grammer.Heritage Auctions, Action by Night, paperback cover, 1991, gouache and pastel on Masonite, 30 x 20 in., by Guy Deel (1933-2005). Part of Heritage Auctions’ Illustration Art Signature Auction. +++

InSight Gallery
214 W. Main Street, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
(830) 997-9920, info@insightgallery.com
www.insightgallery.com 

The entrance of InSight Gallery in Fredericksburg, Texas.InSight Gallery presents a diverse group of artists ranging from traditional still life to wildlife, Western, Native American and everything in between. This provides clients with a little something for everyone who has a passion for traditional art by offering a variety of styles and subject matter by nationally renowned artists. Art continues to be a source of joy and happiness for people who visit the gallery both in person and online, and this devotion from collectors doesn’t waver. InSight Gallery values their relationships both with collectors and artists and appreciates the patronage of clients who choose to work with galleries in what has become an increasingly digital world.InSight Gallery, Blessed with Good Rain, oil, 32 x 44 in., by Brian Grimm.Upcoming shows at the gallery include Mystery and Light, a two-person show with Sherry McGraw and David A. Leffel from March to April; Brush with Nature, a Brian Grimm solo show from April to May; and New to Me - Select Estate Consignments running May to June.

InSight Gallery, Spirit of the Red Wolf, oil, 40 x 30 in., by Roy Andersen (1930-2019). +++

Museum of Western Art
1550 Bandera Highway, Kerrville, TX 78028
(830) 896-2553, www.museumofwesternart.com 

The Museum of Western Art in Kerrville, Texas, is planning a blockbuster exhibition for their 41st year. Darrell Beauchamp, executive director, says that Western art enthusiasts can expect a stellar selection of original art to add to their collection.

The main gallery at the Museum of Western Art.“We moved our annual Roundup Exhibition and Sale from September to April to accommodate artists who were unable to participate in previous years due to conflicting shows,” he says. “The date change has made it possible for many top-rated artists to be with us and we couldn’t be happier.”

Museum of Western Art, Stories from the Ancients, oil, 30 x 40 in., by Bill Kalwick.Opening weekend will be packed with activities. The evening of Friday, April 26, is the artist dinner and award presentation, with a panel of judges determining who takes home the coveted Director’s Choice Award and the Patron’s Choice Award. Saturday morning, April 27, will kick off with a chuckwagon breakfast, followed by artist’s demonstrations, trick ropers, cowboy storytellers and other Western-themed activities. That evening will include a cocktail reception, dinner and annual sale. All art purchased on opening weekend will be tax-exempt.Museum of Western Art, Shelter, oil, 20 x 30 in., by Bill Farnsworth.More than 50 artists from around the country have been juried into the show, with more than 100 works of original paintings and sculptures on display. The 41st Annual Roundup Exhibition and Sale will be on view through June 8, 2024.

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National Ranching Heritage Center
3121 Fourth Street, Lubbock, TX 79409,
(806) 742-0498, www.ranchingheritage.org
www.summerstampede.com 

Every summer, the National Ranching Heritage Center (NRHC) at Texas Tech University hosts the Summer Stampede Western Art and Gear Show,showcasing the creative works of talented Western artists and craftsmen. While visitors can admire Western art and gear year-round at the NRHC, a ranching museum and outdoor historical park, this annual event offers a unique opportunity for attendees to purchase art pieces and interact with the contributing artists.

An aerial view of the National Ranching Heritage Center at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.The evening unfolds from 6 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, June 1. This family-friendly affair not only presents a diverse array of artworks for sale, but also promises an evening of fine folk, dining and dancing to live Western swing music. Attendees can peruse the showcased art, acquire pieces at the listed price and take their chosen artworks home.

National Ranching Heritage Center, Utah, framed photograph on canvas, 9 x 16 in., by Emily McCartney.

The pieces in the sale include paintings, drawings, photographs and sculptures as well as creations by skilled silversmiths, bit-and-spur makers, knife artisans and other esteemed traditional cowboy artists. Following the initial in-person sale, any remaining pieces will remain on exhibit through June and will be available for purchase at the museum or online.

The Red McCombs Main Gallery setup for the Summer Stampede Western Art & Gear Show.

Event details, tickets and artist information are available at on the show website, www.summerstampede.com.

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Southwest Gallery
4500 Sigma Road, Dallas, TX 75244
(972) 960-8935, www.swgallery.com 

Southwest Gallery, Steered in the Right Direction, oil on canvas, 38 x 72 in., by Tom Dorr.

This spring, Southwest Gallery is thrilled to spotlight fantastic new works by prominent Western artists Bob Hagan, John Cook, Phil Beck, Tom Dorr and Xiang Zhang. Southwest Gallery is focused on sharing professional artistic expertise, service and guidance. An art buyer wants to feel the value of their purchase on many different levels as well as “buy it because you like it.” The gallery believes that by igniting the clients’ desire to examine the value in owning artwork, they find out how it actually enriches their lives. People recognize and appreciate the idea of created beauty and the amazing possibilities in celebrating their own unique tastes through art. 

Southwest Gallery, The Soprano, oil on canvas, 24 x 24 in., by Tom Dorr.

For more than 55 years, Southwest Gallery has provided Dallas largest collection of fine 19th- to 21st-century paintings and sculptures. The gallery exhibits hundreds of artists who work in a broad range of styles, all displayed in a 16,000-square-foot showroom in the Lone Star State.

Southwest Gallery, Lord, I Hope this Day is Good, oil on canvas, 45 x 45 in., John Cook.

 

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Lone Star Art Auction
8333 Douglas Avenue, Suite 360, Dallas, TX 75225
(469) 608-7600, info@lonestarartauction.com
www.lonestarartauction.com 

Lone Star Art Auction, Enough Till Spring, oil on canvas, 30 x 50 in., by G. Harvey (1933-2017). SOLD: $180,000

The Lone Star Art Auction is the largest live art auction held annually in the state of Texas specializing in the best American, Western, wildlife, sporting and Texas fine art of the 19th to 21st centuries. “Texas is one of the largest fine art markets in the country, and it deserves its own Texas-sized, Texas-based auction to satisfy collector demand,” says auction founder and owner Phil Berkebile Jr. 

Lone Star Art Auction, The Lawless Frontier, oil on canvas, 25 x 30¼ in., by Frank Tenney Johnson (1874-1939). SOLD: $270,000

The 2024 auction will take place at the Renaissance Dallas Hotel on October 11 to 12, kicking off Friday morning with a full-day auction art preview and the Lone Star Art Auction Patron’s Cocktail Reception and Dinner that evening. Saturday begins with an auction art preview and breakfast followed by the live auction at noon.

Lone Star Art Auction, Proud Men, oil on board, 12 x 13 in., by Howard Terpning. SOLD: $216,000

 

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39th Annual Bosque Art Classic
Bosque Arts Center, 215 S. College Hill Drive, Clifton, TX 76634
(254) 386-6049 (questions), (254) 675-3724 (Tickets)
www.bosqueartscenter.org 

Bosque Arts Center, Wherever I May Roam, charcoal and graphite on canvas, 28 x 22 in., by Crystal Orlando. 2023 Art Patrons Purchase Award & Gold Medal Drawing.

The Bosque Arts Center is known for quality representational art in its gallery and exhibitions. May 29 is the entry deadline for its 39th Annual Bosque Art Classic, a national juried exhibition and sale sponsored by the BAC Art Council. The show awards cash prizes of $15,500 for drawing, pastel, oil/acrylic, sculpture and water media submissions. Cowboy Artists of America member Martin Grelle will serve as judge for the 2024 event, which runs September 14 to 28. Grelle has also donated a piece to the e-BAC online auction in March. Last year’s purchase prize winners added to the permanent collection were Icon, an oil by Patrick Saunders ($5,000 John Steven Jones Award) and Wherever I May Roam,a charcoal drawing by Crystal Orlando ($1,000 plus purchase price Art Patrons Award).

 

Bosque Arts Center, Icon, oil on linen, 30 x 30 in., by Patrick Saunders. 2023 John Steven Jones Purchase Award.

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Fama Fine Art
3637 W. Alabama Street, Suite 470, Houston, TX 77027, (713) 823-8943  

Fama Fine Art offers some of the best in Western and wildlife art.

Establish in 1982, the gallery has an exceptional inventory of painting and sculpture. The warm green background and LED lighting present a homey atmosphere for collectors to casually view works by the most respected artists of Western and wildlife art: Ken Carlson, Tucker Smith, Robert Abbett, Luke Frazier, Stanley Meltzoff, Carl Rungius, Julian Onderdonk, John Cowan, G. Harvey, Martin Grelle, James Robinson, Charles Wysocki and probably the most examples of works by Bob Kuhn anywhere in the country. In the near future, watch for a new Kuhn book featuring pieces never seen in other books as well as viewpoints on Kuhn and his creations from artists, dealers and collectors. Alan Fama has been representing clients at auctions and building major collections for 42 years.

Fama Fine Art, Alaskan Sentinels, acrylic, 15 x 21 in., by Bob Kuhn (1920-2007).

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Museum of the Big Bend
Sul Ross State University, 400 N. Harrison Street, C-101, Alpine, TX 79832
(432) 837-8730, www.museumofthebigbend.com 

The new Emmett and Miriam McCoy Museum of the Big Bend building features two exhibit spaces. The Tom Lea Gallery is dedicated to the art of this late El Paso artist. Featured in this gallery are Lea’s paintings on loan from the Dallas Museum of Art that tells the story of how cattle came to the Americas, titled Western Beef Cattle. The second exhibit space is a rotating exhibit gallery that hosts four exhibits each year. The museum is excited to host Andy Warhol’s Cowboys and Indians, his last series of screen prints, March 1 to June 1, 2024. This exhibit was organized by the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio, Texas. The museum’s summer show will be in partnership with the Texas Photographic Society.

The Museum of the Big Bend’s main gallery. Photo credit: Casey Dunn.

From September 12 to 14, is the museum’s 38th Annual Trappings of Texas show and sale featuring custom cowboy gear and contemporary Western art. Trappings artists all have a connection to the cowboy way of life, and this relationship is reflected in their work.

The Museum of the Big Bend concludes its fall schedule with artwork curated by Russell Tether featuring works by contemporary Mexican-American artists Adrian Aguirre, Gaspar Enriquez,  Elisa Jiménez and the late Louis Jiménez.

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Stephanie Burk
(817) 312-4811, stephanie@horseshoetrailstudio.com
www.stephanieburkfineart.com 

Stephanie Burk, Let’s Do Something Extraordinary Today, oil on mahogany panel, 40 x 30 in.

Stephanie Burk, an associate member of Women Artists of the West, calls the cities of Fort Worth, Texas, and South Fork, Colorado, home. “The West and all it offers has been at my doorstep for decades and never disappoints,” she says. “The opportunity to paint and create art that embodies all I hold dear, the endless horizons and the stunning sunlight, alongside people engaged in tasks of daily living, are precisely where deep joy is hidden.” The artist adds that jumping into a new painting is simultaneously exciting and extremely challenging. “The moment when the painting starts to come together and almost talks to me from the canvas is astonishing,” she says. 

 Stephanie Burk, These Waters Are My Sky, oil on mahogany panel, 40 x 30 in.

 

“I often hear it insisting on bolder color and big brushstrokes. Clearly the voices in my head keep me very entertained. The Wild West is my home, and for that I am forever grateful. I am honored to be in collections across the United States. Turns out, the appeal of the Wild West has no boundaries.”

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Lloyd Voges
Clifton, TX, (254) 723-3158
www.llvstudiolloydvoges.com 

Lloyd Voges, Morning Glow On The Bosque, oil, 24 x 18 in.

Clifton, Texas-based Lloyd Voges is an award-winning Western artist whose compositions consist of ranch life, figures and landscapes depicting the country lifestyle. Voges is a signature member of the American Plains Artists, a lifetime member of the Western Artists of America, and a current member of Internationals Guild of Realism. He is represented by Lovetts Gallery in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In the last couple of years, Voges has shifted his focus to a Western style approach to waterscapes, by popular demand. Though challenging at times, he finds great satisfaction in his works, especially when admirers say his creeks and rivers give them a peaceful calmness. One of his recent paintings, Morning Glow on the Bosque, was selected for this year’s 41st Annual Roundup Exhibition and Saleat the Museum of Western Art in Kerrville, Texas.

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Vogt Auction Galleries
7233 Blanco Road, San Antonio, TX 78216
(210) 822-6155, www.texasauction.com 

Established in 1975, Vogt Auction Galleries specializes in the sale and appraisal of historic firearms, bladed objects, Texas history, artifacts of the early West and their most popular category, fine Texas and Western art.

A wide array of treasures on offer at Vogt Auction Galleries.

Vogt hosts a Spring and Fall Texas & Western Art auction annually at their auction house in San Antonio and streams it live online for anyone to watch. “This spring’s auction lineup is one of my favorites to date—there’s just such incredible variety to suit every Texas and Western art collector’s taste,” says fine art specialist Natalie Curran.

 Vogt takes pride in curating auctions that showcase Texas Hill Country works from artists such as Julian Onderdonk, Porfirio Salinas, José Arpa and Dawson Dawson-Watson. Recently, Vogt has expanded into contemporary Western artists including John Nieto, Howard Post and David Pryor Adickes. Notable sales included the estates of artists G. Harvey, José Vives-Atsara and author Larry McMurtry. —

 

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