Coeur d’Alene Galleries | July 10-August 30, 2026 | Coeur d’Alene, ID

Dual Milestones

Coeur d’Alene Galleries celebrates two major milestones with a group show.

By Michael Clawson

In a rare and fortuitous bit of timing, Idaho’s Coeur d’Alene Galleries is celebrating two major anniversaries at once starting July 10: one is the gallery’s 40th anniversary, and the other is owner Buddy Le’s 20th anniversary of purchasing the storied art venue.

“We’re very excited. These kinds of milestones don’t happen often,” Le says.

Jessica L. Bryant, Lower Yellowstone Falls, watercolor, 28 x 19 in.

The gallery was first started by art dealer Bob Drummond in 1986. Drummond was also one of three founders of the Coeur d’Alene Art Auction. After forming the auction, Drummond wanted to spend more time on that growing enterprise, so he sold the gallery to Mike Overby, who eventually became a partner at the auction once Drummond retired. Overby later sold the gallery to Le, who acquired it in 2006 and has been running it successfully ever since.

“Over the years, it’s always impressed me about our artists that they have quality, consistence and character. These things matter in the art world,” Le says. “I’m a firm believer that the market is held up by the galleries, the artists, the museums and institutions, the collectors and then also the magazines, such as Western Art Collector.That’s the whole industry right there, and we all work together to promote this art form.”

Brooke Wetzel, To Fish is to Hope, oil, 40 x 30 in.

Le will celebrate the gallery’s 40th anniversary with a group show featuring 15 new works from some of the best artists represented at the Idaho venue. The artists are C. Michael Dudash, Logan Maxwell Hagege, Don Oelze, Brent Cotton, Abigail Gutting, Dustin Van Wechel, Jeremy Winborg, Martin Grelle, Joe Kronenberg, Chad Poppleton, Jessica L. Bryant, Michael Coleman, Nicholas Coleman, Colt Idol and Tobias Sauer.

Abigail Gutting, Domain, oil on linen, 36 x 30 in.

“For 40 years, this gallery has stood as a gathering place for collectors, artists and admirers of the American West, and it’s an incredible honor to celebrate that legacy with this anniversary exhibition. Having served as only the third owner in the gallery’s history—and having had the privilege of guiding it for the past 20 years—I’ve seen firsthand how Western, wildlife and sporting art continues to grow in both cultural importance and market strength. This exhibition brings together some of the finest artists working today…[all of] whom represents the extraordinary depth and vitality of contemporary Western art,” Le says. “For four decades, our mission has been not only to promote and preserve the spirit of the American West, but also to help build lasting brands for many of the country’s leading Western artists while guiding collectors in assembling world-class collections. This anniversary show is both a celebration of where we’ve been and a statement about the bright future of the Western art market. We are proud to continue connecting exceptional artists with passionate collectors who understand the enduring value, history and storytelling that define this remarkable genre.”