Past Exhibitions
41st Annual Cowboy Artists of America Exhibition and Sale
A tribute to its enduring appeal, the 41st Annual Cowboy Artists of America Exhibition and Sale is again a big success at Phoenix Art Museum. The most anticipated western fine art event in the country, this show presents a depiction of the West only the members of Cowboy Artists of America can capture with such realistic skill and spirit. The Sale, the premier event of its kind, took place on Friday, October 20, 6-9pm, and gross sales totalled approximately $2.3 million, a portion of which benefits Phoenix Art Museum.
The Exhibition opened to the public the next day and will remain on view through November 19. The Grand Opening for the Museum’s $50 million expansion is scheduled while the Exhibition is on view, on the weekend of November 11 and 12, and visitors to the Exhibition will then be able to experience the new Phoenix Art Museum as well.
More than 130 new works created in the last year by the 22 active members of Cowboy Artists of America (CAA) are unveiled for the first time each year at this annual event at Phoenix Art Museum.
Included are bronze and stone sculptures, oil paintings, water solubles and drawings that capture the life of a cowboy. Some of the artists portray the West that is long gone and only visible through art, while others portray contemporary cowboy life, using their own life experiences on the ranch or reservation as their research.
The Cowboy Artists of America Exhibition and Sale has a rich and colorful history and continually captures the attention of art fans – young and old. The Sale, a specially-ticketed event, attracts hundreds of collectors from around the world. Rather than a typical art auction, attendees of the Sale submit intent-to-purchase slips and the first name drawn has the option to buy the work of art. This method not only proves exciting but offers an equal opportunity for both the first time buyer and the seasoned collector.
This year, the exhibition welcomes a new CAA member, Harley Brown, a native Canadian currently living in Tucson, Arizona. Brown is inspired by American Indian culture and the American West. Best known for his portraits, Brown uses his talent to draw on the unique aspects of each individual.
A portion of the Sale proceeds benefits Phoenix Art Museum and its Western Art Endowment Fund. The annual Sale, organized by Phoenix Art Museum’s Men’s Arts Council, is one of the Museum’s most successful fundraisers. The Exhibition is sponsored by Wells Fargo.
Left: Warrior’s Lament, John Coleman, 2006. Right: Leadin’ the Way Down, Wayne Baize, 2006. Oil on canvas. Courtesy of the artist.