For more than four decades, the pioneering spirit of the American West that played a significant role in the development of the nation has been the focal point of The Museum of Western Art in Kerrville. That spirit of toughness, determination, and resourcefulness is creatively captured in hundreds of paintings, bronzes, and other works of art depicting life on the wild Western frontier.
“For many years, the average American’s exposure to Western art in public museums was confined to the works of Frederic Remington, Charles Russell and a few other old masters,” says Dr. Darrell Beauchamp, executive director. “By the late 1970s, a major revival of national interest in the art of the West was taking place, capturing its history, landscapes, and traditions. Unfortunately, the works of a growing group of contemporary cowboy artists were primarily confined to private collections. Those who were aware of the situation sensed that something was amiss.”
Creation of a public venue for this growing artistic genre gained traction with Kerrville cattle breeder and manufacturer L. D. Brinkman and Robert R. Shelton, an heir to the legendary King Ranch. Both lamented the fact that as collectors themselves, they had limited access to the extensive body of contemporary Western art tucked away in private collections. Soon they corralled a group of kindred spirits that shared a goal of building and establishing the first museum to honor the work of living American Western art painters and sculptors.
These founders pledged significant private funding to launch their project. Then oilman William F. Roden and his wife, Carolyn, of Midland donated a 10-acre piece of land high above the Guadalupe River in Kerrville. This would place the museum in the center of an area rich in Western history and a famous cattle trail—the Great Western—that once led to Dodge City, Kansas. By 1981, enough money had been raised to launch construction of the museum, the last public facility designed by renowned San Antonio architect O’Neil Ford. Ground was broken on April 27, 1981, and the 14,000-square foot structure opened on April 23, 1983, as the Cowboy Artists of America Museum. Since its grand opening, The Museum and its facilities have welcomed more than 1.6 million visitors.
Dr. Beauchamp says The Museum is itself a work of art, resembling a fortressed hacienda and featuring heavy timbers and rugged retaining walls of stacked limestone. Inside, floors of polished end-cut mesquite and saltillo tile reflect a warm glow that complements artwork on display in the various galleries, while heroic and life-size bronzes dot the museum grounds.
In 2004, the Masel S. Quinn Pavilion opened for special events and art education programs. The following year, the Journey West Children’s Gallery was completed to highlight the adventurous history of the American West for young visitors. In addition, educators, students, writers, as well as the public make frequent use of the 6,000-volume Griff Carnes Research Center and the collection of historian Don Hedgpeth. In 2017, the L.D. “Brink” Brinkman Central Courtyard Gallery was enclosed to provide additional exhibition space for The Museum’s collection of bronze sculptures.
Pieces in the museum’s collection considered to be truly significant are those by members of the legendary Taos Society school of artists and historical works by members of the Cowboy Artists of America. The collection includes artwork by Joseph Henry Sharp (1859-1953), Eanger Irving Couse (1866-1936), William Herbert “Buck” Dunton (1878-1936), Roy Andersen (1930-2019), Robert Pummill and many more.
“The hardworking cowboys, Native Americans, women of the West, settlers, mountain men and others are featured through various themed exhibits,” Dr. Beauchamp explains. “Through other temporary exhibitions, the history of famous ranches as well as other diverse aspects of our Western heritage are shared with our ever-widening audience. In addition to summer camps for kids, The Museum offers events throughout the year to educate the public about art of the Old West.”
The Museum’s biggest annual event is the Roundup Exhibition & Sale, which opens the final weekend of April each year. More than 120 works of art are on sale to raise funds for the Museum. More information about The Museum—“Where the Legend Lives”—and its Roundup is available on The Museum’s website.
“In all that it does, the Museum serves as a bridge between the past and the present, ensuring that the legacy of the American West will be preserved for the future,” Dr. Beauchamp says. “If we can get our guests to leave our masterpiece of a museum with an appreciation for the American West, we consider their visit a success.”
