The annual Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, known for its flagship live auction, is about celebrating the very best of Western art while creating meaningful connections between artists and collectors. Organizers aim to create an experience that’s more than an auction. “It should feel like a gathering of people who genuinely appreciate the stories, traditions and landscapes of the American West,” says show director Katelyn Parker.
“Our goal is to showcase exceptional artwork, support the artists who create it, and provide an experience that feels welcoming whether you’re a seasoned collector or attending for the very first time,” she continues. “Every year, we strive to honor the traditions that have made the show what it is while continuing to introduce fresh perspectives and new talent.”
Jim Wodark, Explosion, oil, 30 x 40 in.
This year’s show, hosted at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming, features 107 invited artists working across a wide range of mediums. Collectors will find everything from Western landscapes and wildlife, to figurative work, Native American subjects, contemporary interpretations of the West, and pieces that push traditional boundaries.
In total, collectors will have the opportunity to view and purchase more than 200 works between the live auction, a miniature sale, buy-it-now offerings and the quickdraw.
One stunning example to watch for, is Thomas Kegler’s oil painting Valley of the Giants, Romans 15:13,featuring a gorgeously lit landscape view involving a herd of buffalo. “[This piece] is an homage to the raw majesty and spiritual stillness of Yellowstone,” the artist explains. “It was born from seven years of personal pilgrimages with my two children, exploring the park from the quiet vulnerability of pre-dawn mist to the lingering shadows at nightfall.”
Thomas Kegler, Valley of the Giants, Romans 15:13, oil, 24 x 48 in.
Kegler continues, “This painting was a labor of love that took nearly a year to complete, undergoing an evolution on the canvas. I wanted to capture not just the physical topography of the Hayden and Lamar valleys, but the emotional power of witnessing the ancient bison herds moving through the landscape. The title references Romans 15:13—“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace”—which is intended to encapsulate the profound sense of peace and divine abundance I felt while standing in that valley. The challenge was translating that massive, soul-stirring scale and the drama of the environment into a single, cohesive, visual narrative.”
Additional Western beauties include Jim Wodark’s bucking bronco Explosion; Kyle Sims’ pheasant image The Spring-Time Strut; Amanda Markel’s bronze horse sculpture Striker; and David Mensing’s barn painting Able Favor, among many others. New to the event this year is Colt Idol, Janell James, Amy Lay, Kyle Ma, Robert Martinez, Tobias Sauer and Albin Veselka.
Throughout the celebration, from September 14 to 19, guests can enjoy the art walk, the buy-it-now exhibition of donated works, workshops taught by Buffalo Bill artists, and the quickdraw and live auction. The miniature sale, on view through September 1, features 60-plus small works by event artists. Exceptional artistic achievement is recognized through several awards. The show’s highest honor is the Spirit of the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale Award, presented to the work that best exemplifies the spirit and excellence of the exhibition.
Kyle Sims, The Spring-Time Strut, oil, 15 x 28 in.
The show takes place within a larger event, the Rendezvous Royale, which includes other Western activities. —
Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale
September 14-19, 2026
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
720 Sheridan Avenue
Cody, WY 82414
(307) 587-4771
www.rendezvousroyale.org
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