More than 200 works of Western art by artists across the country will be exhibited during the 45th Annual Western Spirit Art Show & Sale at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum. The juried art show, part of the larger Cheyenne Frontier Days that takes place every summer, will feature everything from paintings to sculpture to mixed media, all of which reflect the enduring spirit of the West.
Catherine Holt, Cub’s First Triumph, acrylic, 36 x 36 in.
“The Cheyenne Frontier Days Western Art Show & Sale anchors a deeply respected tradition in Western visual art that’s recognized nationally and regionally,” says show coordinator Amanda Marshall. “Alongside the rodeo and cultural festivities, the CFD Western Art Show & Sale has been a signature part of the Cheyenne Frontier Days event since the early 1980s, drawing established and emerging artists who specialize in interpreting the American West.”
Among the artwork in this year’s event is Sherry Cobb-Kelleher’s oil Headed West, which depicts a cowboy on horseback rounding up a herd of cattle. “Headed West is another painting from a very cold day back in January of this year of Kent Davis, the ranch manager at the Escalante Ranch, moving bred cows back to the main ranch,” the artist explains. “There wasn’t much snow on the ground but the temperature was 9 degrees above zero!”
Ryan Kennedy, Teton Vagabond, drawing, 28 x 33 in.
In Ryan Kennedy’s drawing Teton Vagabond, a grizzly bear stands in a grassy field in front of the towering peaks of the Grand Tetons. “The Tetons are a spectacular and steep mountain range in Wyoming, known for their dramatic peaks and breathtaking landscapes,” says Kennedy. “This piece captures the essence of the majestic range while featuring the ‘vagabond,’ a wandering grizzly bear. The bear embodies the spirit of exploration and resilience.”
Sherry Cobb-Kelleher, Headed West, oil, 20 x 16 in.
Sculptor Tanner Loren brings Autumn’s Song, a bust of a stately elk, to the 2026 show. “He lifted his head, steam rising from his nostrils and filled his lungs with the thin mountain air,” Loren says of the piece. “The sound that followed was ancient—a wild, ringing bugle that rolled across the valley, echoing against stone and sky. It was part challenge, part song, part heartbeat of the wilderness itself.”
A special opening reception for the art show and sale will take place at the museum on Saturday, March 7. Guests can enjoy hors d’oeuvres, drinks and a first look at the exhibition. In addition, awards will be announced that evening, including the best of show and the winners of each medium: acrylic, drawing, mixed media, oil, pastel, photography, print making, sculpture and watercolor.
“Over the decades, the show has raised millions to support the CFD Old West Museum’s art education, exhibitions and operations, anchoring Western art both culturally and economically in Cheyenne,” Marshall adds.
Tanner Loren, Autumn’s Song, bronze, 14 x 8 x 8 in.
The 45th Annual Western Spirit Art Show & Sale will be on view to the public from March 8 to April 19. This year, in addition to the typical methods of sale, the Western Art Show & Sale will also offer select pieces for a silent auction. —
45th Annual Western Spirit Art Show & Sale
March 8-April 19, 2026
Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum
4610 Carey Avenue
Cheyenne, WY 82001
www.oldwestmuseum.org
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