Western art grosses more than $1.3 million at Cowboy Artists of America Exhibition & Sale
The 56th Annual Exhibition & Sale presented with the support of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, the exhibition generated sales of more than $1.3 million.
57th Annual Cowboy Artists of America Exhibition & Sale
Cowboy Artists of America Enjoy Another Successful Exhibition and Sale
57th Annual Event Generates more than $1.2 million in Sales
FORT WORTH, TEXAS — Western art showcased at the 57th Annual Cowboy Artists of America (CAA) Exhibition & Sale generated more than $1.2 million, thanks to buyers from 17 states. Held November 3-4 at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, the CAA event was presented with the support of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.
Twenty-one artists were invited to exhibit. In addition to CAA members, the show featured guest artists Williams Matthews and Howard Post.
Martin Grelle’s “Apsaalooke Storm Racers,” which received the gold medal in oil painting, sold for $170,000. Michael Dudash’s oil painting “The Warm Reflections of An Autumn Camp,” the Ray Swanson Memorial Award winner, sold for $31,000. An oil painting by Brandon Bailey, “The Thwart of Major Reno’s Men,” sold for $26,000.
Gold medals also went to Mikel Donahue in mixed media for “Pick of the Remuda”; Tyler Crow for the charcoal drawing “The Wrangler”; Phil Epp in water soluble for “Black Sunday”; Bruce Greene for “The Bell on Old Blue” in sculpture.
The Anne Marion Best in Show, which judges select from among all gold medal winners, was Phil Epp’s “Black Sunday.” This was the second consecutive year an Epp painting received the Ann Marion award. Additionally, Epp’s peers in the CAA selected him for the American Hat Award, which denotes the best overall exhibition at this year’s show.
Silver medals were awarded to Teal Blake in oil for “The Norther”; Mikel Donahue in mixed media for “Summer’s Relief”; Bruce Greene for the drawing entitled “Mesteñeros”; Phil Epp in water soluble for “Fence Builder”; and Dustin Payne in sculpture for “Lone Star Legacy”.
Overall, 78% of the exhibited pieces were purchased during the Saturday night sale party.
Earlier in the week, CAA active members voted to extend membership invitations to artists Todd Conner, Dave Santillanes, Alvin Marshall and Albin Veselka.
The CAA was formed in 1965 by artists Joe Beeler, Charlie Dye, John Hampton and George Phippen. Through the years its mission has been “to authentically preserve and perpetuate the culture of Western life in fine art.”
The CAA’s Joe Beeler Foundation promotes the development of young artists in traditional Western art through workshops, mentoring and scholarships. Proceeds from the annual sale and exhibit help fund the foundation’s outreach program. As part of that outreach, prior to the public opening 300 Fort Worth area students were invited to view the exhibit and visit with the artists. During the Preview Party on Friday night, the CAA hosted the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo’s Youth Art Sale. Seven students collectively earned over $13,000 from their sales, with 100% of the profits going towards furthering their education.
During the evening event, guests were welcomed by mariachis from North Side High School and a Longhorn named Freckles, and were treated to coffee and hot chocolate by Whiskey Morning Coffee as they left. The morning of the sale, the general public was invited to a sale preview and chuckwagon breakfast prepared by Homer Robertson.
The CAA Exhibition and Sale was supported by the legacy level sponsorship of the Dellora A. and Lester J. Norris Foundation. Platinum sponsors were Debbie and Albon Head and the Amon G. Carter Foundation. Bryan King, Teresa and Luther King, Mason King and Billy and Ann Mitchell were gold level sponsors. Frost Bank, Sherry Flow and Dan Nance and American Hat were silver level supporters, while Mike and Shelia Ingram, Charlotte and John Kimberlin and Bowie House, Auberge Resorts Collection were bronze level sponsors. Friends of CAA included Whiskey Morning Coffee, Elaine and Neils Agather, Kim and Glenn Darden, Christina and Mark Johnson and Kim and JC Johnson.
For more information on the Cowboy Artists of America and the Joe Beeler Foundation, see cowboyartistsofamerica.com, Facebook or Instagram.
Cowboy Artists Of America Exhibition & Sale Tops $1.2 Million
The 55th Annual Cowboy Artists of America Exhibition & Sale, held November 5-6 at Will Rogers Memorial Center, reflected a strong market for traditional Western art with total sales topping $1.2 million.
