Abigail Gutting has devoted much of her professional career to horses, which were, and are still, instrumental to the history of the American West. The animals are so vital to the culture of the West that they frequently transcend history entirely and enter a realm of myth, legend and fable.
He Knows a Thing or Two, oil on linen, 30 x 20 in,
And even today, horses continue to play a multitude of roles in the West. Gutting is exploring them in her newest solo show, The Ongoing Story,opening May 8 at Coeur d’Alene Galleries in Idaho. “The whole show is about the role of horses and mules in the American West. It’s an ongoing story for me because I paint present-day horses. They have never left us,” Gutting says. “I love everything about them—their character, their looks, their strength. There would be no American West without horses. So, it’s exciting for me to continue exploring what they mean to us. They’re not just a piece of equipment. We have a relationship that forms with them, which can be seen in the iconic image of the horse and rider.”
Brains of the Outfit, oil on linen, 40 x 30 in.
Gutting primarily gets her reference material from small, rural rodeos, especially ones that still allow artists with cameras to go down next to the fence where all the action is located. “Finding a good rodeo is like finding that secret fishing hole, especially as rodeos get stricter about letting people get down close,” she says. “I like to get up close and personal, where I’m wiping the grit off my teeth and my camera’s covered in dirt.”
Bolt, oil on linen, 40 x 30 in.
New works include Bolt, showing a horse responding to a thunderbolt behind it, and Legend, with a riderless horse against one of her famous dark and moody backgrounds. In Brains of the Outfit, Gutting paints a pack mule on the edge of the Grand Canyon, which has a long history with pack animals riding those steep switchbacks deep into the canyon.
Legend, oil on linen, 30 x 40 in.
“Over the past 12 years we’ve had the privilege of watching Abigail Gutting deepen her connection to the animals that helped shape the American West. In this new exhibition, she turns her full attention to horses and mules—the quiet heroes of Western expansion—capturing not only their physical power, but their intelligence, loyalty and enduring partnership with the people who depended on them,” says gallery owner Buddy Le. “Abigail’s work reminds us that the story of the West isn’t only about the landscape or the pioneers; it’s about these remarkable animals whose strength and reliability carried that story forward. This exhibition is a tribute to their legacy, rendered with the authenticity and respect that has defined Abigail’s work throughout her career.” —
Coeur d’Alene Galleries 213 Sherman Avenue » Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814 » (208) 667-7732 » www.cdagalleries.com
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