31 Oct AUCTION BLOCK: BIDDERS TIP THEIR HATS

Collectors continued to show a strong appreciation for the iconography of the American West. Wildlife works and art by historic and contemporary Western and Indigenous artists stirred buyers to action during annual sales in late summer and autumn.

In September, the 18th annual Jackson Hole Art Auction brought a total of more than $6.3 million and set world auction records for two artists, Woodrow Blagg and Conrad Schwiering. Blagg completed the large, exceptionally realistic drawing of a rancher working cattle in 2008, and it sold for more than four times its high estimate. Additionally, Wyoming artist Conrad Schwiering’s portrait of the Grand Tetons also soared above estimates, celebrating a vista the artist was renowned for painting.

This year’s Quest for the West at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art sold more than $1 million of art during opening night and the miniature sale. Utah artist Brett Allen Johnson received the purchase award, and his painting Pueblo Shapes was added to the museum’s permanent collection.

Continuing a longstanding tradition in Cody, Wyoming, the 43rd annual Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale brought $1.45 million between the weekend’s Live Auction, Quick Draw, and Silent Auction events. According to a press release issued by the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, this was the first year the live auction alone surpassed $1 million in sales.

Also noteworthy, during the 37th annual Western Visions Art Show + Sale at the National Museum of Wildlife Art, William Alther won his third artists’ choice award, and a panel of museum trustees selected Chris Maynard’s Owl Dreams for the museum’s purchase award, adding the delicate feather-work to the wildlife museum’s permanent collection.

Jackson Hole Art Auction: 18th Annual Live Sale

September 14
Total: $6.3 million

The 18th annual Jackson Hole Art Auction (JHAA) was held at the Center for the Arts on September 14 in Jackson, Wyoming, offering artworks across several genres, including wildlife, sporting, figurative, landscape, Western, and Native American, by both classical masters and contemporary artists. Ninety-three percent of the 346 lots sold, realizing more than $6.3 million in sales.

The auction catalog’s 2024 cover feature was the sale’s top-selling lot: a gelatin silver print of Ansel Adams’ The Tetons and the Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. Adams printed the 15.5-by-19.25-inch photo in the 1970s, and Sir Elton John previously owned it. The photo sold for $312,000 (with fees), more than double the high estimate of $150,000.

Ansel Adams, The Tetons and the Snake River | Gelatin Silver Print | 10.5 x 13.5 inches | Sold: $312,000

Carl Rungius led a strong collection of American wildlife art at the auction. His painting The Challenge sold for $276,000, amid estimates of $250,000 to $350,000, as the second top-selling artwork. Widely recognized as the premier painter of North American wildlife, Rungius was born in Germany in 1869 and classically trained at the Royal Academy of Arts in Berlin. An avid hunter and outdoorsman, Rungius spent considerable time in the wilderness studying animal anatomy and behavior. The artist’s approach to wildlife painting was groundbreaking for his time: He was among the first artists in early 20th century North America to merge wildlife and landscape subjects, situating animals within their natural environments. The Challenge depicts a mature bull elk bugling in the foreground to an equally sized adversary amid its herd in the distance.

The auction brought the highest price yet for artist Woodrow Blagg, who is best known for his large-scale graphite drawings depicting ranch life. The artist’s 42.5-by-72.25-inch graphite drawing Bull Rush sold for $168,000, above estimates of $20,000 to $40,000. Blagg trained at the Pennsylvania Fine Arts Academy in Philadelphia, and although born and raised in Pennsylvania, he was captivated by the vast landscapes of Texas. His large-scale drawings are meant to convey the immensity of his experiences while traveling there: the sense of openness in the landscape, the intensity of cattle drives, and the larger-than-life personalities of the people he met, according to the JHAA. The artist’s work has been exhibited across the U.S., and he was invited to the White House in 1982 to present a drawing to President Ronald Reagan.

Mark Maggiori, Wyoming Spring | Oil on Linen Mounted on Board | 27 x 34 inches | Sold: $168,000

Two additional works brought $168,000: William R. Leigh’s 1918 painting Chief Big Eagle (estimate: $175,000 to $275,000) and Mark Maggiori’s Wyoming Spring (estimate: $80,000 to $120,000). Leigh believed that the focus of American artists should be the depiction and preservation of this country’s unique contribution to the Western world: the culture of the American West. And it seems that contemporary artist Maggiori agrees. The Frenchman-turned-American studied at Paris’ Académie Julian and, over the last decade, has immersed himself in observing the American cowboy and studying classic Western artists, namely Frederic Remington, Maynard Dixon, and the Taos Society of Artists.

Also of note was a rare Henry Merwin Shrady bronze from 1900, Bull Moose, which brought $162,000, above estimates of $60,000 to $90,000. The nearly 20-inch-tall sculpture is notable for its anatomical accuracy: the proportions, musculature, and texture of the fur and paddles are a testament to the depth of the artist’s studies.

Henry Merwin Shrady, Bull Moose | Bronze | 19.75 x 15.375 x 8.125 inches | Sold: $162,000

Contemporary artist Martin Grelle’s Winter Quest sold for $156,000, amid estimates of $150,000 to $250,000. Grelle’s work often explores themes of survival, tradition, and the deep connection between Native Americans and their environment. Winter Quest depicts a group of Native American figures on a journey through snowy terrain, a common theme in Grelle’s work that highlights the strength of these communities, according to the auction house.

The fifth top-selling lot was G. Harvey’s Jackson’s Winter Campaign, which sold for $144,000 amid estimates of $125,000 to $175,000. Beams of sunlight stream horizontally across the foreground of the painting, drawing the eye to the tracks in the snow and a group of soldiers chatting around a campfire, steam emanating from a coffee pot.

The sale set a new auction record for beloved Wyoming artist Conrad Schwiering. A large portrait of the Grand Tetons from the Snake River, Tapestry of Time, sold for $132,000, above its high estimate of $50,000. This was the first painting to sell for six figures at auction by the artist.

Conrad Shwiering, Tapestry of Time | Oil on Panel | 48 x 48 inches | Sold: $132,000

To round out the ten top-selling items at this year’s auction, Gerard Curtis Delano’s Colorado brought $120,000 (estimate: $150,000 to $250,000). His serene painting of ranch life was commissioned by the The Denver Post.

Gerard Curtis Delano, Colorado | Oil on Canvas | 30 x 36 inches | Sold: $120,000

Artist Bob Kuhn remains a perennial feature of JHAA’s annual auction, and this year’s sales were led by They Don’t Eat Post Toasties, which sold for $114,000, above the high estimate of $90,000. Additional highlights from the artist included Three Big Rams (sold: $108,000, estimate: $75,000 to $100,000), Where the Deer and the Antelope Play (sold: $108,000, estimate: $100,000 to $150,000), and in The Rustle of the Mice (sold: $84,000, estimate: $75,000 to $100,000).

Also of note: Paul Pletka’s imposing neo-realistic portrait Mohtawas sold for $51,000, above the high estimate of $45,000. Charlie Dye’s action-packed Cheyenne Challenge brought $78,000, above the high estimate of $50,000, and a Frank Tenney Johnson nocturne from 1925, Night Rider, sold for $48,000, above the high estimate of $25,000.

John Nieto’s works also showed a strong performance. A rare-at-auction acrylic, Self Portrait sold for $5,700, above the high estimate of $5,000. The striking portrait His Own Cavalry Jacket sold for $30,000, above the high estimate of $18,000. And his colorful bear portrait, Grizzly Bear, brought $19,200, above the high estimate of $10,000.

43rd Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale

September 16 – 21
Total: $1.45 million+

During the 43rd annual Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale (BBAS), bidders raised their paddles for more than $1.45 million in artwork between the weekend’s Live Auction, Quick Draw, and Silent Auction events. According to auctioneer Troy Black, who has officiated the sale for decades, this was the highest total in BBAS history and the first time that the live auction alone has surpassed $1 million in sales.

Dennis Ziemienski, Twilight Trout | Oil | 30 x 24 inches | Sold: $5,000

The BBAS is an invitational Western fine art sale that offers works relating to the land, people, and wildlife of the American West, and artists offer a broad range of stylistic interpretations in a variety of mediums. More than 625 registered attendees mingled in the gigantic party tent temporarily constructed in the parking lot of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming, to bid on artworks and enjoy the evening’s activities. Out of 104 lots, 98 sold for a sell-through rate of 94 percent.

Sally Maxwell, Nuance or Nothing is Just Black and White | Scratchboard | 24 x 48 inches | Sold: $48,875

The night’s highest-selling price for a two-dimensional piece was $48,875 (with buyer’s premium). Sally Maxwell’s colored scratchboard of a mountain lion crouched atop a stark black-and-white background entitled Nuance or Nothing is Just Black and White, brought more than double its estimated value of $17,500. Maxwell’s piece also claimed the distinction of People’s Choice, voted on by more than 1,500 visitors to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in recent weeks.

Also of note, Ty Barhaug’s oil painting of the Shoshone River Valley’s nearby South Fork, Wyoming, entitled Lighting the Valley Floor, soared above its estimate of $6,000 to bring $37,375.

Vic Payne, The Walk of Tombstone | Bronze | 29 x 54 x 20 inches | Sold: $40,250

The highest-selling three-dimensional piece was a figurative bronze by Vic Payne entitled The Walk of Tombstone, which brought in $40,250. The artist’s bronze work Sounds of the Night won an award of excellence at last year’s show.

Andrew Bolam, Working Mom | Acrylic | 48 x 48 inches | Sold: $11,500

Saturday morning’s Quick Draw featured 29 artists who, in only 90 minutes, created original pieces of artwork while more than 600 attendees observed the process. Artists showed their newly completed artwork on the runway, and bidders snapped up all 29 pieces as well as an artist’s apron signed by all participating artists.

During the Quick Draw, sculptor Chris Navarro created a sculpture of a bull moose with a woodpecker resting on its antler entitled Woody and the Moose. Bidders were eager to purchase multiples of the piece, which will be cast in bronze later this year. Navarro’s work commanded the sale of 25 copies at $1,725 each, a particularly strong showing for a Quick Draw sculpture.

Donna Howell-Sickles, Puppies! | Mixed Media | 36 x 30 inches | Sold: $15,000

“An event like this would not be possible without support from the whole Cody community. To every artist, patron, partner, sponsor, employee, vendor, and volunteer, thank you for your incredibly generous contributions that led to a wildly successful 43rd Art Show and Sale,” said Jennifer Thoma, CEO of the Cody Country Chamber of Commerce.

Ty Barhaug, Lighting the Valley Floor | Oil | 9 x 35 inches | Sold: $37,375

In addition to the art auctions, BBAS offers instructional classes and workshops during Rendezvous Royale, the weeklong celebration of the arts hosted in partnership with the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and By Western Hands.

Quest for the West Art Show and Sale

September 6 – 7
Total: $1 million+

Quest for the West Art Show and Sale, held in early September at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, draws participation from many of the nation’s best contemporary Western American artists. During the 19th annual event, more than 350 art patrons gathered to view and purchase works and visit with the artists in attendance. The opening weekend included two fixed-price, luck-of-the-draw sales and an awards banquet. More than $1 million of art was sold during opening night and the miniature sale.

While Quest for the West is a museum fundraising event, 75 percent of proceeds go to the artists, with the remaining proceeds benefiting the Eiteljorg. Eight of the 49 artists who participated this year were newcomers. An awards ceremony on September 7 recognized exceptional artistic talent.

Brett Allen Johnson, Pueblo Shapes | Oil | 38 x 30 inches | Winner of the Harrison Eiteljorg Purchase Award, 
sponsored by the Western Art Society

Brett Allen Johnson of Lehi, Utah, received the Harrison Eiteljorg Purchase Award for Pueblo Shapes. The Western Art Society, a group of enthusiastic museum supporters, purchased the painting to add to the Eiteljorg’s collections for $13,700. The painting features Johnson’s unique view of the adobe structures synonymous with the Southwest. Pueblo architecture is said to be the only original American architecture to exist.

Dean Mitchell, Below the Mountain | Acrylic | 28 x 38 inches | Winner of the Henry Farny Award for Best Painting, sponsored by Steve and Jane Marmon

An oil painting by Dean Mitchell of Tampa, Florida, Below the Mountain, won the Henry Farny Award for Best Painting. The acrylic painting depicting a white house below an imposing plateau sold for $30,000.

A bronze sculpture of a raven by Dave LaMure Jr. of Kimberly, Idaho, The Seeker, received the Cyrus Dallin Award for Best Sculpture. The sculpture was available for $8,200 per casting, with six casts available out of an edition of 30.

Dave LaMure Jr., The Seeker | Bronze | 26.25 x 16 x 20 inches | Winner of 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. Three of the artist’s four paintings in the exhibition sold, including The Grace of Breath, which brought $11,000.

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. The snowy scene of a small creek sold for $18,000.

Dave Santillanes, The Cache La Poudre River | Oil | 24 x 44 inches | Winner of the Artists’ Choice Award, sponsored by Phyllis Cockerill

In a vote by attendees, a painting by Bruce Lawes of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Her Frozen Fortress, won the Patrons’ Choice Award and sold for $14,000. The artist also won a second award in the new category of Miniature Art Show Patrons’ Choice Award for his smaller painting, On Golden Pond. The 14-by-11-inch painting depicts a swan on a pond filled with golden light and sold for $4,500.

37th Annual Western Visions Art Show + Sale

September 7 – 29
Total: $500,000+

The National Museum of Wildlife Art’s most significant and longest-running fundraiser, Western Visions Art Show + Sale, opened on September 7 with over 170 works of wildlife art on display.

The event featured a range of traditional and contemporary paintings and sculptures. The signature art sale on September 12 saw enthusiastic interest from patrons, with more than 300 people participating in person and online. Sales continued through the close of the exhibition on September 29 and totaled more than $500,000. Proceeds from the 104 artworks benefited both the museum and participating artists.

“As the National Museum of Wildlife Art, we are honored to host this annual exhibition featuring new work from the nation’s, and world’s, top wildlife artists,” says Steve Seamons, the museum’s executive director.

As a new addition to the event, 32 exhibited artworks were created in a large format. A weighted draw selected artists to create larger works that responded to the theme “connection,” inspired by the National Museum of Wildlife Art’s vision statement. In addition to the 32 large-format works, 141 small-format works were available for purchase by draw.

“The success of this year’s show was largely due to the incredible caliber of the art on offer,” says Madison Webb Stanko, chief marketing officer. “We are so grateful for the continued support and participation of our Western Visions artists and patrons, without whom this show would not be possible.”

Chris Maynard, Owl Dreams | Great Argus Wing Feather on Cotton Paper and Archival Foam Core | 28 x 12 x 2 inches | Sold: $3,200

Awards were presented to artists for exceptional artistic merit on September 12. A panel of museum trustees selected Chris Maynard’s Owl Dreams for the Museum Purchase Award. The work, which depicts six owls “carved” from a single feather, was added to the National Museum of Wildlife Art’s permanent collection for $3,200.

Joe Kronenberg, Silent Sentinels | Oil on Board | 27 x 48 inches | Sold: $19,700

Visitors voted for their favorite two-dimensional and three-dimensional works for the People’s Choice awards. Artist Paul Rhymer’s Bring On the Night, won the award in 3D for his bronze sculpture of a great horned owl, with its fluffy plumage and intense, distant expression. The bronze, edition of 25, was available for $6,000. Visitors selected Joe Kronenberg’s Silent Sentinels for the 2D award. The painting of two wolves lying down near a creek with sunlight streaming through the trees behind them sold for $19,750.

Paul Rhymer, Bring On the Night | Bronze | 12 x 16 x 7 inches

The artists in attendance at the event voted for William Alther’s The Standout for the Red Smith Award, or artists’ choice award. This was Alther’s third time winning the prize. His painting depicted a small group of cow elk, one highlighted in warm sunlight in the foreground. The painting sold for $4,200.

William Alther, The Standout | Oil on Linen | 15 x 21 inches | Sold: $4,200

Dan Ostermiller’s Annie was chosen by a panel of art experts who considered medium, style, composition, subject matter, and technique for the Excellence for Artistic Merit Award. The large bronze bunny, edition 2 of 12, was 41 by 36 by 35 inches and reflected the gentle nature of one of the artist’s pet rabbits. It sold for $39,000.

Dan Ostermiller, Annie | Bronze | 41 x 36 x 35 inches | Sold: $39,000

A nonprofit founded in 1987, the National Museum of Wildlife Art’s permanent collection chronicles much of the history of wildlife in art from 2500 B.C.E. to the present. Its holdings include more than 5,000 artworks by such prominent artists as Georgia O’Keeffe, Andy Warhol, Robert Kuhn, John James Audubon, and Carl Rungius.