It’s here! The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum’s 50th annual Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition & Sale is officially on exhibit now through August 7. If you can’t make it to the Museum, the online catalog is now LIVE too.
Prix de West showcases 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 prestigious exhibition and sale.
Our next Prix de West artist in the spotlight is Quang Ho. A Vietnamese-American artist based in Denver, Colorado, Quang Ho immigrated to the United States in 1975. He has been featured in international art publications and is regarded as a prolific American master and an influential teacher. Ho is a newer member of Prix de West, having participated since 2019.
The following interview is an excerpt from “What Makes Prix de West the Premier Western Fine Art Show in the Country?” written by Prix de West Committee Chairman Dan Corazzi for the 50th Prix de West commemorative catalog.
What were your impressions, as a world-renowned artist, about participating in and attending your very first Prix de West?
Prix de West was a first-class experience in every way. The exhibit itself was arranged beautifully with some of the best works by world-class artists. After the weekend of activities with the staff, the artists, the show and sale of the works, I left with the impression that it was one of the very best art events I’ve attended. Aside from the royal treatment, we received from the staff and the museum, what was really wonderful was the genuine love and admiration that artists had for one another. There was no sense of competition but support for one another. It really felt like a family gathering. I am already looking forward to being at the next gathering.
Spring Arrangement with Dragonfly Oil on linen | 37″ x 48″
As an artist who also teaches art techniques to other artists and knowing that more and more fine art is being presented and sold online, how important is it for collectors to both experience and to view works of art in person at shows – like the Prix de West – before purchasing a given work of art?
A painting is not fully experienced until it is seen in person. So much of the soul and heart of the painting is in the nuances of a brush stroke – the articulation of paint handling by the artist. It’s impossible to see that in a photograph, even in high resolution. If there is an opportunity to see the work in person, it’s always a much richer and safer experience for a buyer. The exception may be that if the collector is very familiar with an artist’s work already, then buying the work of that artist from an image is less iffy. What a great treasure that the Prix de West allows the public to experience these great works in person – in a time when so much art has gone online.
After a Day Long Ride Oil on Linen | 24″ x 30″
