If you’re looking for the superstars of Western art, then Western Art Collector has you covered. Howard Terpning, Martin Grelle, Logan Maxwell Hagege, Kim Wiggins, Bonnie Marris, Mark Maggiori—they’ve all had work in the magazine in recent years. The historic masters, too: Maynard Dixon, Charles M. Russell, Frederic Remington and others frequently appear in these pages.
This part of the market is thrilling. It’s where prices soar and bidding goes a little nuts as collectors fight for the top pieces. But that’s just the very top of the market. Look just beneath that and a whole world of Western art unfolds.
For example, consider Great Falls, Montana, during late March. The whole city celebrates Charlie Russell’s birthday with Western Art Week. We covered three of the biggest shows in our March issue: March in Montana, The Russell and Out West Art Show & Sale. All three were exciting to watch and fun to attend. And the level of artwork was exceptional, with collectors willing to pay a premium for important work. I was in Great Falls and after thoroughly enjoying those three events, I decided to hit some of the smaller shows in my final hours in Montana. And there were plenty of shows in Great Falls that week: the Great Western Show, Wild Bunch Art Show, Best of the West and Legends West Art Show. Artists of all types participate in these events. Some are clearly novice artists, while others are more experienced. And all ages are represented. I bought a small $150 painting from an artist who appeared to be in her 80s or 90s. She didn’t wrap the painting or package it in any way, but she did slide it into a Ziplock bag before sending me on my way. I thought it was a charming and endearing thing to do. The painting is already in my office and I’m thrilled with it.
Small shows, obscure fairs and out-of-the-way galleries are great places to discover new artists. Every artist must start somewhere, and it’s never at the top. So when you do find a new or unknown artist you like, I encourage you to vote with your wallet—buy their art and support their work.
Western Art Collector is your go-to source for news and information on the entire art market, from the top artists and biggest shows, but also from new and emerging artists and regional shows. Our goal is to show you the whole market, not just one part of it. That is reflected here in the May issue. Enjoy!
Michael Clawson
Executive Editor
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