Nearly 1,000 people attended the opening of the Coors Western Art Exhibit & Salein Denver on January 7. It’s hard to fathom what that number exactly looks like until you get in a gallery and you’re standing shoulder to shoulder with others trying to look at, appreciate and buy Western art. (Needless to say, it was warm in the room, even as it was snowing outside.)
From left, Holly Anderson, vice chair of the Coors Western Art committee; Kate Hlavin, curator of the Coors show; JR Henneman, curator at the Denver Art Museum; and artist Maeve Eichelberger.
The annual show, hosted by the National Western Stock Show, not only had a tremendous turn-out but it also saw larger-than-expected sales figures at more than $1 million. “We couldn’t be more pleased with the 2025 edition of the Coors Western Art Show,” says curator Kate Hlavin. “To see increases in both sales and attendees was quite an accomplishment for us. We also were happy to add additional programming with the Winter West Symposium and collectors loved the artist demonstrations and the panel discussion. We promise more of this for next year as well.”
Joseph McGurl, Light of the West, oil on linen panel, 28 x 30 in.
Hlavin ran her first Coors in 2024, but took the curator position after much of the show was already in the works. The 2025 event was significant because it was her show from top to bottom. Work is already underway for the 2026 edition of the popular show. It will take place in a new venue that will allow the show to expand further and grow into the future.
In addition to a sale, the Coors show also featured the Winter West Symposium that included presentations from Duke Beardsley, Dennis Ziemienski and a panel that included artists William Matthews, Brandon Bailey, Lisa Gordon, Thomas Blackshear II and David Kammerzell.
During the awards presentation, Western Art Collector awarded Joseph McGurl the Western Art Collector Award of Excellence for his oil painting Light of the West, which showed two riders near a shadowy cliff face.
1. Thomas Blackshear II finishes a portrait. 2. Audience members listen during the Winter West Symposium. 3. Stephanie Hartshorn paints during the art demo. 4. Whitney Gardner completes a piece during an art demonstration. 5. Mara Allen with one of her artworks. 6. Crowds packed into the art gallery during the red-carpet opening. 7. Dennis Ziemienski gives a presentation about his life and career.
Proceeds from the event go to the National Western Scholarship Trust, which supports students interested in agriculture, rural medicine and veterinary science. Every year the trust awards 120 students scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $15,000 to further their education in these Western-related fields. —
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