A Western Art Collection Profile >

The artist Billy Schenck lives near Santa Fe with his wife (and business partner), Rebecca Carter, in a handsome adobe house built by the renowned landscape architect John Brinckerhoff Jackson (1909–1996) and then completely renovated by the couple. Here at the Double Standard Ranch they have created their own Shangri-La for making and displaying art, and also for playing the equestrian sport of ranch sorting, at which Billy excels.

Born in Ohio, Billy “began drawing before I can remember.” In 1965, during his freshman year at the Columbus College of Art & Design, he spent $125 (a substantial sum then) on a painting created by a sophomore friend named Peter Kambitsis. Soon he transferred to the Kansas City Art Institute and began collecting art by his peers there, too. Billy still owns all of those works, including six paintings by classmate Stanley Whitney that are the only figurative works Whitney made before famously turning to abstraction.

A key component of Billy and Rebecca’s collection is contemporary Western art. They follow only 20 or so artists, but in depth, much the same way that Dr. Albert C. Barnes did a century ago when he focused on such contemporaries as Renoir, Cezanne, and Matisse in order to create what became Philadelphia’s Barnes Foundation. The artists represented are James Butler, Russell Case, Kang Cho, Anne Coe, Frank Croft, Glenn Dean, Josh Elliott, John Fincher, Logan Hagege, Brett Allen Johnson, Jerry Jordan, T. Allen Lawson, Ed Mell, John Moyers, Erin O’Connor, Roseta Santiago, Tim Solliday, Tracy Stuckey, Kim Wiggins, Kathy Wipfler, and Dennis Ziemienski. (Robert Daughters is also here, though he passed away in 2013.)

Billy notes that all of these artists are “technical virtuosos who tend to have an immediately recognizable signature style”; he and Rebecca plan to publish a book on this group, something they have already done for their stellar holding of historical Western art, which encompasses such stars as Maynard Dixon, J.H. Sharp, and Frank Tenney Johnson. When it was exhibited at what is now the New Mexico Museum of Art, that trove drew record-breaking crowds and is still the only private collection presented at the museum since it was founded in 1915. (The show went on to visit six other venues nationwide.)

Also in the collection are key examples of handcrafted ranch furniture made by Thomas Molesworth between 1932 and 1950; this was his best period, after he had studied under Frank Lloyd Wright and brought his Arts & Crafts techniques to Cody, Wyoming. In addition, the Schencks are admired for their prehistoric Southwest ceramics.

Billy says the contemporary Western art has been purchased in a variety of settings — from the West’s many exhibition-sales benefiting museums, from galleries and auctions, and from other collectors and artists. He explains, “I know the living artists we collect because I have exhibited alongside all of them. People always assume that because I’m an artist, we acquire just by trading with other artists. But that is not true. We are extremely specific about the pieces we want, and those we get are usually exceptional and would never be available through a trade. We buy from the dealers and galleries that represent our colleagues and from the museum shows where their work is available.”

Some artists can be disorganized, but not Billy. Every artwork — regardless of value or rarity — is fully documented, including provenance, condition, the price paid, and the current market value. Billy and Rebecca keep this data digitally and also printed out in binders, and they have built a 1,000-square-foot climate-controlled storage unit that houses approximately 350 paintings, drawings, prints, and photographs.

In their home and office, nothing gets direct sunlight, and most photographs are kept in flatbed drawers to protect them from light and heat. Not surprisingly, the collection also includes the only complete set of Billy’s own serigraphs, lithographs, and etchings, along with color trial proofs and the original drawings used to cut the silkscreens. The serigraph collection has been exhibited at five museums and can be requested for loan in the future.

When asked about treasures that got away, Billy laughs and recalls: “There are a number of cases where I missed a painting and got it only after it went through two or three more sets of hands. One of them took 17 years before I acquired it. For the prehistoric Southwest ceramics, my all-time record was waiting 46 years to get one piece. In many cases, I did not have the financial wherewithal to acquire them right away. Moreover, I outlived all of the owners and bought the pieces from their estate sales. There are several instances where I had owned pieces and sold them in moments of financial weakness, then was able to buy them back as long as 40 years later.” He concludes, “Obviously the key is patience and living long enough.”

Billy is too modest to note one other key asset: his superb eye that discerns which artwork to pursue. Without that, patience and longevity will get a collector only so far.

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Featuring more than 80 artists from across America, the 32nd annual Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale will again tempt collectors with an eclectic mix of contemporary artworks capturing the Western way of life.

The participating artists include Bill Anton, Teal Blake, Nocona Burgess, Shawn Cameron, Jill Carver, G. Russell Case, S.M. Chavez, Scott Christensen, Sushe Felix, Danny Galieote, Whitney Gardner, Starr Hardridge, Quang Ho, Jennifer Johnson, Greg Kelsey, Amy Lay, William Matthews, Jim Morgan, Ken Peloke, Billy Schenck, Matt Smith, Joshua Tobey, Jeremy Winborg, Star York, and Dennis Ziemienski.

This year’s featured artist is Duke Beardsley. The curator, Kate Hlavin, notes that Beardsley is a longtime veteran of the show and adds, “As a native of Colorado with deep roots in Denver and ranching, his paintings exemplify the American West with a pop of color and energy.”

Not all of the exhibitors have been seen here before; Starr Hardridge says, “I’m honored to participate this year for the first time. As a native Oklahoman and a citizen of the Muskogee Creek nation, I am very enthusiastic to share my own particular vision of the West.”

The show opens on January 6 with the Blue Jean Preview and Awards Reception, then continues the next day with the Red Carpet Reception and half a day’s worth of artist demonstrations and panel discussions that will lead into the final evening’s festivities.

The Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale is a key part of the National Western Stock Show (January 11–26), one of the world’s leading professional rodeos and horse shows. Its net proceeds support the National Western Scholarship Trust, which underwrites college and graduate-level scholarships in agricultural science, business, and rural medicine.

COORS WESTERN ART EXHIBIT & SALE
Denver, Colorado
coorswesternart.com
January 6–7, 2025

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VECINOS Y AMIGOS
Couse-Sharp Historic Site
Taos, New Mexico
couse-sharp.org
through February 28, 2025

The Couse-Sharp Historic Site (CSHS) has opened “Vecinos y Amigos: Bert Geer Phillips and His Neighbors,” an exhibition that explores, for the first time, a small yet revealing aspect of one of the co-founders of the Taos Society of Artists.

In 1898, Bert Geer Phillips (1868–1956) and his fellow student Ernest Blumenschein came to Taos on a painting trip. Phillips remained there until shortly before his death in 1956. When he painted figures, he usually depicted Native Americans, so, as CSHS executive director and curator Davison Koenig explains, “This exhibition seeks to expand our knowledge of the context of those few paintings in which people in the Hispanic community modeled, to identify them, and to enrich Bert’s stories with theirs.”

Phillips knew that his buyers were part of a mainstream U.S. public fascinated by, but largely ignorant of, the cultures of the Southwest. Guest curator James C. Moore, director emeritus of the Albuquerque Museum, notes, “These paintings are not portraits as such, but imaginative tableaux in which people served as actors in stories that Phillips felt would have success in broadening his reputation on the exhibition circuit.”

When he first arrived in Taos, Phillips exhibited bigotry toward many of his neighbors, famously provoking a deadly riot when he refused to remove his hat for a religious procession on the street. In time, “He learned to appreciate the area’s cultural milieu and foster more respectful relationships,” Koenig says. Phillips later was part owner of a curio shop, trading in Native artwork and santos, local religious art objects in a Spanish colonial tradition.

Research into the models’ families and recognition of who they were “gives significance to those who have long been anonymous, broadening our view of the larger social dynamic of Taos,” Koenig adds. He is quick to credit CSHS site coordinator Jake Cisneros and members of the Hispano Advisory Council, as well as Alicia M. Romero, curator of history at the Albuquerque Museum: “Their work has broadened the scope of the Lunder Research Center here on our campus, and is a perfect illustration of the kind of enrichment of narratives that we aim for.”

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Now representing more than 3,500 artist members, the nonprofit organization Oil Painters of America (OPA) is presenting its Western Regional Exhibition of Traditional Oils at the Phippen Museum in Prescott, Arizona.

On view are approximately 125 paintings created by members who live west of the Mississippi.

“This extraordinary event will feature approximately 100 of the finest representational oil paintings,” said the museum, “showcasing exceptional draftsmanship, color, and composition.”

Oil Painters of America Western Regional Exhibition
Phippen Museum
Prescott, Arizona
oilpaintersofamerica.com
phippenartmuseum.org
Through January 5, 2025

On view at American Legacy Fine Arts this season is “Jove Wang: Spirit of the American West,” an exhibition of more than 20 recent landscape and figure paintings.

Gallery director Elaine Adams calls it “a bridge between two worlds, illustrating how Jove Wang’s early life experiences in China have shaped his perception and artistic interpretation of his current life in the American West. Wang’s childhood in the vast, open steppes of Inner Mongolia instilled a deep appreciation for expansive landscapes and the rugged beauty of untamed nature. These formative years amid rolling plains, grazing livestock, and the tribal nomadic lifestyle (including the renowned horse culture) are mirrored in his dynamic compositions today.”

At age 7, Wang began an apprenticeship with the master painter Gang Gu, subsequently studying at the Jilin School of Art, Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts, and Tokyo Academy of Fine Arts. In 1990, he immigrated to the U.S., where he has made it his goal that “each work I paint must be endowed with its own life and soul from within, whether it is a drama, an opera, a poem, or even a fantasy. I consider my style as realism combined with modern expressionism.”

At a Glance:
Jove Wang: Spirit of the American West
American Legacy Fine Arts
Pasadena, California
americanlegacyfinearts.com
October 18–November 16, 2024

Opening a window into the rich history, culture and landscapes of the Southwest, the Briscoe Western Art Museum is proud to host “Storytellers: Narrative Art and the West,” an exhibition that reveals the breadth of narrative art produced in the Southwest from the early twentieth century to today.

The exhibition features more than 70 remarkable works curated from the prestigious collections of the New Mexico Museum of Art, the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, the Briscoe and private lenders. “Storytellers: Narrative Art and the West” is on view through January 19, 2025, and is included with museum admission.

A narrative work of art is one that tells a story of a particular moment, or moments, in time. Narratives are often used to illustrate historical events, legends, traditions, myths, fables and religious ceremonies. The exhibition explores the many ways artists have told stories about the Southwest in their art including religious, migratory, historical and rural subjects.

“Narrative art tells a story. It can illustrate historic events or bring the imagination to life. The traditions of storytelling in the Southwest go back to ancient times and the Indigenous populations of the region,” explains Liz Jackson, President and CEO of the Briscoe Western Art Museum. “From the simple carved forms of Helen Cordero to the narrative realism of Martin Grelle and Navajo artist Ed Natiya, the exhibition celebrates the intricate tapestry of the American Southwest’s artistic heritage. We’re proud to share these works and the stories they tell.”

The exhibition explores the various ways artists have told stories about the Southwest in their work, including illustrations of historic events such as Diego Romero’s image of the Pueblo Revolt, and paintings of local religious ceremonies such as William Penhallow Henderson’s “Holy Week in New Mexico” and ruminations on spiritual traditions as in Partocinio Barela’s “Last Supper,” as well as reflections on modern art and iconic images of the West inspired by pop culture, including Andy Warhol’s “Geronimo” and Billy Schenck’s “Cliff.”

The range of artists and the stylistic variation represented in “Storytellers: Narrative Art and the West” offer a variety of lenses, allowing audiences to engage with the region’s complex and evolving history and culture. Storytellers showcases the talents of renowned artists like Fritz Scholder, Gerald Cassidy, Alan Houser and Henry Balink, who bring diverse perspectives on cowboy, Native, and Spanish cultures, alongside works by Frederic Remington, Andy Warhol, Logan Maxwell Hagege, Martin Grelle and Mark Maggiori.

For more information, please visit the museum website at briscoemuseum.org.

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More than $1 million in exceptional Western art was sold at the Eiteljorg Quest for the West® Art Show and Sale, held September 6-7, 2024, at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in downtown Indianapolis.

The opening weekend included two fixed-price, luck-of-the-draw sales and an awards banquet. So far, the amount of art sold to buyers totals $1,034,405 and counting. While Quest for the West is a museum fundraising event, 75 percent of sales proceeds go directly to artists, with remaining proceeds benefiting the Eiteljorg. Any artworks not sold during Quest weekend – including paintings as well as additional casts of bronze sculptures – can be purchased through October 6.

Quest Art Awards

Brett Allen Johnson of Lehi, Utah, received the Harrison Eiteljorg Purchase Award for his painting “Pueblo Shapes” (shown at top). The Western Art Society, a group of enthusiastic museum supporters, purchased the painting to add to the Eiteljorg’s collections and sponsored the award.

An oil painting by Dean Mitchell of Tampa, Florida, “Below the Mountain,” won the Henry Farny Award for Best Painting, sponsored by Steve and Jane Marmon.

A bronze sculpture of a raven by Dave LaMure, Jr. of Kimberly, Idaho, “The Seeker,” received the Cyrus Dallin Award for Best Sculpture, sponsored by Michael and Carla Leppert.

Artist David Griffin of Dallas, Texas, received the Victor Higgins Award of Distinction, sponsored by Catherine Turner, for the best overall body of work presented at the show.

Quest artists voted to select the recipient of the Artists’ Choice Award, sponsored by Phyllis Cockerill. The award went to artist Dave Santillanes of Fort Collins, Colorado, for his painting, “The Cache La Poudre River.”

In a vote by attendees, a painting by Bruce Lawes of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Her “Frozen Fortress” won the Patrons’ Choice Award, sponsored by Tom and Patty Gibbs.

Lawes also won a second award, in the brand-new category of the Miniature Art Show Patrons’ Choice Award, for his smaller painting, “On Golden Pond.” That award is sponsored by David and Giselle Found.

Find more details at eiteljorg.org/quest-for-the-west.

Browse more western art here at FineArtConnoisseur.com.

Top artists and avid collectors of Western art will once again converge on Indianapolis for the 19th annual Eiteljorg Museum Quest for the West® Art Show and Sale, September 6 and 7, 2024.

More from the organizers:

“As one of the Eiteljorg’s iconic events each year, Quest for the West® has played an integral role in increasing awareness of the Western American art genre within the overall art community,” Eiteljorg President and CEO Kathryn Haigh said. “Quest for the West represents exceptional art, artists and Hoosier hospitality. It also has been vital to raising the Eiteljorg’s profile nationally, building lasting relationships between artists and collectors, as well as growing the Eiteljorg’s collection.”

Now in its 19th year, Quest for the West® is well known for its fun, intimate and welcoming atmosphere, allowing artists to reconnect with longtime collectors and meet new ones. Guests engage with the artists in an intimate setting and marvel at the diverse scope of elegant, world-class art. Since its inception in 2006, Quest has generated more than $18.5 million in art sales, with artists receiving nearly $14 million, and net proceeds supporting the Eiteljorg Museum.

After the sale weekend concludes, the Quest show will open to the public on Sunday, September 8, where all the Quest artworks will be on view through Sunday, Oct. 6. Any unsold art will remain for sale through the run of the exhibition. Collectors and museum guests will enjoy the beautiful, vibrant gallery of lifelike landscapes, stunning still lifes and portraits, sculpted bronzes and other works.

For complete information about this event, please visit quest.eiteljorg.org.

The American Plains Artists (APA) 39th Annual Juried Exhibit & Sale opened June 27, 2024, to a large continuous crowd in the Quartermaster Building at Fort Concho National Historic Landmark in San Angelo, TX, where the exhibit continued through August 4. Realistic and representational artworks of the American Great Plains were exhibited by 43 APA members from across the U.S.A.

Awards Juror Teresa Elliott, awarded the following:

• BEST OF SHOW: “Seeker of Peace“ (shown at top) by Jason Tenison, Bixby, OK
• 1st PLACE AWARD: “Stories Rarely Told” by Sherry Blanchard Stuart, Scottsdale, AZ
• 2nd PLACE AWARD: “American Protection”, by James Loveless, Jr., Fort Worth, TX
• 3rd PLACE AWARD: “El Trono de los Vaqueros I” by TW “Pop” Vanya, Somerville, TX

Other awards sponsored by the APA included:

• CLYDE HERON AWARD: “Seeker of Peace” by Jason Tenison, Bixby, OK
• BEST PLAINS PEOPLE: “Good Melon” by David Dorsey, Valentine, NE
• MYSTERY AWARD: “Apache Way” by Jammey Huggins, Seminole, TX
• TEXAS AWARD: “The Shed’s Flower Bed” by Fritzi Heron, Odessa, TX
• ARROWHEAD AWARD (Hosting Facility’s Choice): “Self Portrait” by Lori Jones, Lake City, KS
• GOLDEN SPUR AWARD (Artists’ Choice): “Sweltering Summer” by Sandie Whitman, Cheyenne, WY
• PLAINSMAN AWARD (People’s Choice): “American Protection” by James Loveless, Jr, Fort Worth, TX

PUBLISHER’S AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE were awarded to:

• “The Crack of Dawn” by Eileen Nistler, Upton, WY–Fine Art Connoisseur
• “Yep, That’s What I’m Gonna Do Now” by Charlie Bullock, Athens, TX, Art of the West, Andy Krane, CEO/Publisher
• “Striking a Pose” by Lloyd Voges, Clifton, TX–Western Art & Architecture, Tim Newton, Publisher

Plus:

• ARTIST FOCUS AWARD: “Sharing” by Veronica Brown, Sullivan, MO–Western Art Collector, Aldolfo Castillo and Wendie Martin, CEO and Publishers

• ARTISTS’ RETREAT AWARD: “Medicine Woman” by Veronica Brown, Sullivan, MO– given by Our Heritage Guest Ranch, Jean Norman, Owner, Crawford, NE

And seven EXHIBITION AWARDS:

• “Wildflowers #24” by Mary Lambeth, Midland, TX
• “Where the Buffalo Roamed” by Lou Sanders Albright, Athens, TX
• “Stories Rarely Told” by Sherry Blanchard Stuart, Scottsdale, AZ
• “He’s Right There” by James Loveless, Jr., Fort Worth, TX
• “Stories Kneaded in Dough” by Eileen Nistler, Upton, WY
• “Three Amigos” by Cheryl Roush, Midland, TX
• “Lost in Contemplation” by Theresa Otteson, Farmington, UT–given by Fort Concho NHL, San Angelo, TX

Awards of Excellence were awarded to:

• “Sweltering Summer” by Sandie Whitman, Cheyenne WY
• “Ladies on the Lookout” by Patsy Lindamood, Huntsville, TX
• “Stories Kneaded in Dough” by Eileen Nistler, Upton, WY
• “West Meets Southwest” by Linda Rust, Del Rio, TX
• “Sharp Ones” by Jason Tenison, Bixby, OK
• “As the Day Goes By” by Carol Ann Welch, Euless, TX
• “Eclipsed Windmill” by Lloyd Voges, Clifton, TX
• “A Legend Begins” by Burl Washington, Fort Worth, TX
• “Agave” by Anne Peyton, Phoenix, AZ

The public is encouraged to view the APA exhibit on www.americanplainsartists.com.

Western Art > Prior to the opening of 43rd Annual Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale’s Live Auction Gallery, a carefully selected panel of judges studied the 104 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional works in the exhibition. The judges ultimately selected eight artists whose pieces best reflect the mission of the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale (BBAS) and represent exceptional craft and quality. The judges announced these eight winners during the opening reception of the gallery held on Friday, August 16.

A committee invites judges who represent three distinct categories within the art world, namely: art history and scholarship, art business, and private collection. This year, the three judges selected were Kendra Heimbuck, Executive Director at The Brinton Museum, Big Horn, WY, Susan Potje, Director of the Celebration of Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ, and Scott Leinen of Omaha, NE, an art collector and Patron of the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale.

The Spirit of the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale Award Sponsored by The Collier Group

This award recognizes the artwork that is most representative of the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale in terms of location, history, and the grandeur embodied by the “spirit” of the American West. The judges awarded this honor to “High Noon”, a 30- by 26-inch oil painting (shown at top) by Ralph Oberg. The painting depicts the arid Wyoming landscape and several pronghorn antelope in the noonday sun.

Potje remarked that Oberg “truly captures the vast open space of the American West,” complimenting the artist’s composition which “draws your eye across the entire canvas,” as well as the palette in the sagebrush and the sky.

Heimbuck agreed, saying, “your eye is drawn from the hyper-focused realistic rendering of the foreground and primary subject and moves smoothly through each figure to the soft landscape and bluffs in the back of the image. The soft tones of the color palette are a perfect complement to the iconic pronghorn and the setting.”

Leinen called the painting “a true snapshot of the Spirit of the West and the Wyoming landscape. The muted colors of the sage, cactus and brush complement the beautiful sky and the well-arranged pronghorn.”

BBAS would like to thank The Collier Group for the generous sponsorship of this award’s prize money.

Two-Dimensional Award

The judges selected “Blue Chair” by Stephanie Hartshorn as the best in show for two-dimensional artwork. Hartshorn’s oil painting is 18 by 36 inches and depicts a weathered building with a sign that reads “Waltman Store.”

Heimbuck said, “Stephanie captures a despondent, yet true reality of the rural West. Through her impressionist style, she masterfully encapsulates a scene which we’ve all passed by and may not have paid close attention to.”

Leinen commented that “if you’ve spent any time driving through rural areas, you’ve passed this scene before. This painting is not just representative of the West, but rural America as a whole. There is a tinge of sadness or melancholy as I view the painting … and good artwork often leaves you affected in one way or another.”

Potje observed, “Stephanie captures an iconic rural setting that evokes strong emotions. Her signature style, crisp composition, and command of her palette work together for a fabulous piece. The title, ‘Blue Chair’, invites the viewer to take a closer look.”

Three-Dimensional Award

The judges selected “Home is Where You Find It” by Stefan Savides as the three-dimensional best in show. Savides’ piece is a bronze that measures 11 by 15 by 13 inches. The artist’s subject matter is a mother hen and four chicks, nestled tightly inside a crumpled metal bucket. Stefan Savides is participating in the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale for the first time in 2024.

Leinen said “sometimes artwork just makes you smile, and this sculpture did that for me. Growing up in rural Iowa, I can identify with this scene!” He praised Savides’ artistry, saying “the use of the trampled bucket as the new home for the hen and her chicks was very clever. The bucket was extremely well done from the handle and the rivets to the striping around the top – the design was perfect.”

Potje stated, “Stefan captures the warmth and whimsy of the mama hen making a home for her chicks in the unlikely, but functional vessel. He captures the texture of the pail and the feeling of family.” The sculpture is “technically excellent and artistically brilliant,” she added.

Heimbuck noted, “This piece tells the important story of a mother hen and the feminine instinct that is alive and important in the West. Savides carried this piece out so well, rendering the nesting mother hen and her chicks in a familiar crushed bucket that has come to the end of life on the ranch.”

Judges’ Awards of Excellence

As a mark of the overall quality of the 43rd Annual Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, the judges felt it necessary to present five additional Awards of Excellence. They felt the following pieces required recognition for their design, execution, and embodying of the Western spirit:

BBAS limits the number of contemporary Western artists invited each year; the 2024 lineup features 104 artists, all of whom represent a high caliber of artistic knowledge and execution. These artists’ major works are available to view in the Buffalo Bill Center of the West until the Live Auction of western art commences on Friday, September 20.

Organized by the Cody Country Chamber of Commerce, the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale strives to support established and emerging Western artists, engage patrons of the arts, and enliven the Cody community with events that provide education and entertainment. The proceeds from sales and events benefit the artists, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody Country Chamber of Commerce, and local arts organizations.

For more information, please visit buffalobillartshow.org.

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