Artist Focus: Veryl Goodnight

It took 15 years of research, two black eyes and one concussion to share the roles sled dogs and their drivers had in settling North America. Veryl Goodnight’s interest in sled dogs began as a joke and culminated in what she believes is one of the most important achievements of her 60-year career.

The Gold Rush Dogs, oil on linen, 40 x 80 in.

Dogs have literally bookended North America’s history. They came with the first human migrations from Northeast Asia and remained the most reliable form of winter transportation well into the 20th century. In order to bring accuracy to this little-known history, Goodnight assembled her own dog team. The resulting adventures and mishaps enabled her to bring nuances of this unique partnership to her work.

Haven on the Trail, oil on linen, 24 x 36 in.

The most important paintings were kept off the market to facilitate an exhibit at Western Spirit: Scottdale’s Museum of the West in Scottsdale, Arizona. Sled Dogs in America – Alaska and Beyond was seen by thousands from July 2024 to April 2025. The centerpiece of the show was The Gold Rush Dogs, which depicts the dogs commonly stolen and sold on the black market during the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush. (Scan the QR code to see a video about the painting.)

The paintings from the exhibition are now available. For more information visit the artist’s website. —