The many different faces of the West come to Tehachapi, California, in November for the annual Art 2026 Tehachapi Exhibition & Sale. Whether it is the soft snouts of cattle or red-rock vistas, this year’s event promises a wide array of styles, mediums and subjects.
The Tehachapi Arts Commission kicks off its sixth edition with a VIP opening reception at the Aspen Builders Activity Center on Friday, November 13, from 5 to 9 p.m. Here collectors and sponsors have first access to the juried exhibition. The show opens to the public on Saturday, November 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Annette Hammer, Wilderness Cathedral, oil, 24 x 24 in.
Mainly focusing on representational work, the exhibition brings together long-time favorites as well as emerging artists to “create an evolving showcase that reflects the breadth of fine art being made in America today,” according to the organization.
Annette Hammer returns this year with a piece titled Wilderness Cathedral, a work inspired while hiking in Zion National Park in Utah.
“At the beginning of the hike I was not too impressed with the landscape, [which was] very dry,” she says. “But as we walked further along the trail…we came to this natural formation that took my breath away. I knew I wanted to paint this beautiful place.” Her piece depicts a popular monument known as the Double Arch Alcove and highlights the variegations in the red-rock cliffs contrasted by vegetation just starting to yellow in the autumn air.
“I was excited about the way it turned out,” Hammer says. “It is different in color and subject from what I have submitted in past shows. It is a unique view of the many faces of the West.”
Victor Riesau (1930-2023), The Gate, bronze
Nikita Budkov says he has mainly focused on landscapes after moving closer to his new home in southeast Idaho, near Yellowstone National Park. However, this year, he returns to his roots in figurative and portrait work with a piece titled Jaquima to Freno. A firefighter by trade, Budkov found inspiration in his own captain’s ranch and animals. “I knew the captain had a ranch and that his family showcases their beautiful horses,” he says. “So, I specifically asked him to ride his horse with cows in the background.”
Drawing on inspiration from popular songs about buckaroo culture, Budkov chose to submit this piece due to the strong presence of the central figure that pays homage to the local ranching heritage. “Ranchers, farmers and real-life cowboys are part of everyday life here, and I wanted to capture that,” he says.
Derek Harrison, The Hidden Meadow, oil on linen, 18 x 26 in.
The Tehachapi Arts Commission utilizes the event to extend its impact on the art community far beyond the gallery walls. The event helps the organization realize its three goals of bolstering local economy, investing in lasting public art, and providing a national stage for artists of all backgrounds and mediums.
Hammer has worked closely with the organization since the beginning and has felt the impact of the founders’ efforts on the art world.
Nikita Budkov, Jaquima to Freno, oil on board, 24 x 24 in.
“Each year the show has become larger and better,” she says. “[Founders Dwight and Laura Dreyer] have a large presence and…are able to convey the importance of supporting artists within this group, as well as the larger art community. I make it a point to save my best work to be included in the show each year.” —
Art 2026 Tehachapi Exhibition & Sale
November 13-14, 2026
Aspen Builders Activity Center
410 W. D Street, Tehachapi, CA 93561, (626) 945-3753
www.artstehachapi.org
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