Excitement is in the air at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum as we prepare for the 50th annual Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition & Sale, opening June 2, 2022.
Prix de West brings artists and patrons together to showcase the American West through the work of today’s finest contemporary Western artists. In celebration of the 50th Prix de West, we will be spotlighting artists, discovering works currently resting in the Museum vault and sharing the history of this long-running art exhibition & sale.
This year, 98 artists will bring over 300 original works to display and sell at The Cowboy during art sale weekend, June 17-18. D. LaRue Mahlke will be one of the two guest artists this year, presenting at Prix de West for the first time.
Although it’s her first time participating in Prix de West, it’s not her first time showing her art at The Cowboy or visiting Prix de West. Mahlke has also been a frequent participant in one of The Cowboy’s other annual art exhibitions & sales, Small Works, Great Wonders, and is closely acquainted with the Prix de West artists and art collectors.
“Every year, it is always exciting and inspiring to see the wonderful ways each Prix de West artist has raised the bar with their work,” says Mahlke. “It is such a pleasure to catch up with other artists, old friends and new acquaintances and to have the opportunity to talk about art and life.”
Mahlke has been a professional artist since 1998 and has since gained national recognition and won multiple awards for her nature paintings depicting American landscapes, frequently the American West.
“So much about the West is compelling to me; the big sky, the dramatic light and shadow across the land; the colors from subtle to vibrant, and the various patterns and textures of the geology,” Mahlke said. “The whole atmosphere of the West is fascinating; the history, the people, the old towns like Santa Fe and Taos, the wild and ancient places, and of course, the art that is inspired by it all.”
Prix de West
Featuring paintings and sculptures by the finest contemporary Western artists working today, the 50th Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition & Sale at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum will open June 2, 2022, with the Art Sale Weekend scheduled for June 17 – 18.
Prix de West is the nation’s premier Western art exhibition and sale showcasing original works ranging from historical depictions of the American West to more contemporary and impressionistic pieces. Artwork from this world-renowned event will be on exhibit through August 7, 2022.
