Every year, the American Plains Artists celebrate art depicting wildlife, people and the landscape of the American Great Plains for the Annual Juried Exhibit & Sale. For the 41st edition, attendees can expect to find exceptional Western paintings and sculpture, some of it resembling the style of Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell.
Sherry Blanchard Stuart, The Signal, oil on linen, 40 x 30 in. Best of Show winner in 2025.
“The overarching theme and mission of the show is for artists to share their artwork of the American Great Plains with others and the joy the artists experienced while creating their artwork,” says Judy McElroy, APA president. “There is so much beauty, history, humor and wonder found in the plains that we love, and we want to share [it all] with each other and with the public.”
McElroy predicts there will be around 100 original pieces in the exhibition, every one of them available for purchase by collectors. “Artworks are pre-juried, so the cream of the crop are in this show,” McElroy adds. “[In addition], many APA artists from several states will be in attendance at the opening reception on Saturday, June 20, as well as the awards juror, Phil Bob Borman.”
Desree Pettera, Last Stand, oil, 24 x 18 in.
To add to the festivities, the Concho Cowboy Company will be in attendance and in costume at the opening reception.
The show will present approximately 30 awards at the opening, including the Patsy E. Lane Memorial Award. Lane was a signature member (painter and sculptor) of the APA who died in 2025. “Since this is the 250th anniversary of the United States, another possible award is one for the best patriotic painting,” McElroy says. “The Signal, by Sherry Blanchard Stuart won Best of Show at the 2025 Annual Juried Show—chosen by the awards juror Dr. Darrell Beauchamp, director of the Museum of Western Art—for its high quality, great composition and overall appeal.”
Anne Peyton, Last Light, acrylic on hardboard, 20 x 16 in.
While there will be between 50 to 75 artists participating at this year’s event, McElroy notes, “No one artist is more special than another, so you could say that all of them stand out. It’s always a good time at shows like this, to get together and catch up on what everyone is working on at the present time. We very much enjoy meeting collectors and lovers of realistic art at our shows. The different subject matter presented is a treat to see and makes us all more aware of our surroundings while living in or passing through the Great Plains. There will be many artistic treats in this 2026 show.”
Lou Sanders, Return to Fort Chadbourne, oil, 36 x 40 in.
The show, hosted at the Fort Concho National Historic Landmark in San Angelo, Texas, will open with the reception on June 20 and remain on view through August 2. —
American Plains Artists: 41st Annual Juried Exhibit & Sale
June 20-August 2, 2026
Fort Concho National Historic Landmark
630 S. Oakes Street
San Angelo, TX 76903
www.americanplainsartists.com
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