The upcoming Women’s Work exhibition hosted by Cowgirl Artists of America celebrates the artwork of more than 40 women artists from across North America working in both fine and traditional Western art forms. From oil paintings, drawings and photography to sculpture and leatherwork, the show highlights stories of ranchers, rodeo athletes, horsewomen, bootmakers, mothers, veterinarians and more. This year’s exhibition is hosted in partnership with the A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art in Trinidad, Colorado.
Katherine Cudney, Bringin’ ‘Em In, oil, 18 x 24 in.“Women’s Work seeks to celebrate women’s full contributions, removing their stories from the sidelines,” says Megan Wimberley, artist and founder of CGA. “This exhibition showcases the reality that ‘women’s work’ is all work, and that women are talented and multifaceted contributors to the story of the American West.”
Paige Weber, In Good Hands, oil, 12 x 16 in. Among the artists juried into the exhibition is Katherine Cudney, who brings a selection of ranching pieces to the show. “It was a joy to collaborate with Vera Earl Ranch and Performance Horses as my partner ranch for this project,” she says. “I chose them primarily because the ranch engages a number of women who keep things running like a top, from their head-of-operations to their cow and horse handlers.” Three of those women are featured in her show paintings: Bailey Bearup, horse trainer/breeding program manager, and sisters Marin and Addison Tomlinson.
Lauri Ketchum, You’ll Do, oil, 18 x 24 in.
Lauri Ketchum grew up in an agricultural family, raising and showing black angus heifers for many years in her youth. “Since then, I have traveled many paths in my life, but those agricultural roots have shaped who I am as a person, and inspire me as an artist,” she says. “I’ve come full circle, and painting cows and calves, and working cowboys and cowgirls, feels like home.” Her painting in the show depicts a cowgirl on horseback wrangling a herd of cattle.
Katherine Cudney, End of a Hard Good Day, oil, 12 x 16 in.
Peggy Judy, A Gentle Hand, oil, 12 x 9 in.
“I was inspired to highlight equine massage therapist Terri Bergmeier, whose work so closely aligns with my passion for painting horses,” says artist Paige Weber of her piece In Good Hands. “Through this collaboration, I wanted to explore the quiet power of touch and connection between horse and human, a relationship built on trust, care and mutual respect…Women’s Work celebrates the often unseen roles women play in the Western world.”
Phyllis Burchett, Guardian of the Herd, photography, 20 x 24 in.
Founded in 2021, Cowgirl Artists of America is dedicated to increasing opportunities and visibility for women in Western art, while continuously showcasing the rich traditions of the West.
Women’s Work 2025 will run from August 1 to September 25 at the A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art. —
Women’s Work 2025
A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art
150 E. Main Street, Trinidad, CO 81082
www.cowgirlartistsofamerica.org
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