More Than 100 Western Works Of Art Worth $1.25M At Renowned Buffalo Bill Art Show

CODY — The 45th Annual Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale kicked off to a full house Thursday evening at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.

This year’s auction features 107 pieces from 107 artists, representing the best of the Western American art community. The total assessed value of the paintings, sculptures, and other pieces is more than $1.24 million.

As locals, patrons, and artists perused the pieces, Rebecca West, CEO of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, pondered how the show might be outgrowing the space.

“I would say we’re almost running out of room,” she said, referring to the John Bunker Sands Photography Gallery, where the pieces and patrons were crowded together. “And you know what? That's a wonderful problem to have, because your support is amazing.”

Best Of The West

The Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale focuses exclusively on contemporary Western artists, simultaneously giving them opportunity and a challenge.

While other art auctions might feature several pieces from a single artist, this show takes one piece per artist per year.

Each of the 107 artists chose their best work to showcase. With patrons from all over the world, their paintings, sculptures, and one-of-a-kind pieces can get the artists more exposure and a potentially huge payout.

Jeffrey Burnham Rudolph is one of those artists. This is his 31st year participating in the Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale.

“I was born and raised in Cody,” he told Cowboy State Daily. “I’ve been here for a long time, and I’m still thrilled to be here.”

Rudolph’s piece is “People Watching,” a grizzly bear carved out of black walnut. It’s valued at $7,500, but could go for twice that much, or more, during the live auction.

Rudolph is a sculptor who works with wood, bronze and stone. This year, he indulgde in one of his lesser-used mediums. 

“I tend to do a lot of bronze sculptures so I can afford to do a stone and wood once in a while,” he said.

Award Winners

The reception opening the show is also when awards are announced.

At least three “best in show” awards are given each year: For the best two-dimensional and three-dimensional pieces, and the coveted Spirit of Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale Award.

Each award comes with a cash prize, so it’s about more than bragging rights and a potentially higher price at the September auction.

The panel of judges is different each year. At least three people, representing the business, patron, and curatorial realms of the art world, are selected to rigorously review the pieces before the gallery opens, then come to a unanimous consensus on most deserving pieces.

“Now that you've perused the gallery, can you yourself pick out the one person to award any one of those awards to?” Asked Katelyn Parker, the show’s director. “It's very, very difficult, and they accepted the challenge. They did an amazing job today, and I'm so grateful for them.”

Betsy Grassby, executive director of the Steamboat Art Museum in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, announced the two-dimensional award: “Full Curl,” an acrylic painting of a bighorn sheep ram by Adam Smith.

Amy and Andy Crane, owners of Art of the West magazine, announced the Three-Dimensional Award. That went to Meeteetse bronze artist Vic Payne for his piece “Dawn of America.”

“We’re pleased to announce that this gentleman got his piece here just in time,” Amy Crane said. “What a show you have. This gathering of artists is incredible, so thank you for allowing me to be a part of it.”

Jim and Ginger Dagger, the judges representing patrons, announced that the Spirit of Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale Award went to "Valley of the Giants, Romans 15:13," an oil painting by Thomas Kegler.

“I think we all came to this consensus pretty quickly, and it was a fairly easy process,” Jim Dagger said. “I just want to say this is an incredible honor.”

Five other Awards of Excellence were given:

• “Vigilant Guardian,” a bronze sculpture by Brandon Bailey.
• “Something in the Dark,” an oil painting by Albin Veselka.
• The Man in the Arena,” an oil painting by Mark McKenna.
• “Rock of Ages,” a charcoal piece by Ray Brown.
• “Honkin’ For Home,” an oil painting by George Dee Smith.

Parker noted that Smith’s award was particularly exciting for her and many others.

“George has been in the show since the very first year,” she said. “This is his 45th show.”

Missing And Missed

West took a moment to mention a notable person was missing from the event: Ann Simpson, wife of the late Senator Al Simpson, who passed away less than a week before the opening.

“Ann was the ultimate patron of the arts,” West said. “I don't have this written down, but I'm darn sure that Ann was with this event from the very beginning, when it was much smaller. She would be so pleased, as would Al, to see all of your wonderful, smiling, enthusiastic faces here tonight.”

One recurring sentiment among the patrons and artists is that the Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale is more than just another auction.

Many people treat it as more of a family reunion. They come to Cody to reconnect.

“It’s more than just an art auction,” Parker said. “It isn’t just about raising funds. It’s a homecoming. It’s about relationships. The people under that tent might not have seen each other since the last auction. It’s an entire experience, and we’re lucky to have such a generous group of artists and patrons.”

Sold!

The 107 art pieces will be on display in the John Bunker Sands Photography Gallery from Aug. 8 until Sept. 18, the day of the annual auction. That night, all the pieces will hit the runway under the big tent in the museum’s parking lot.

The 2024 show set a record with more than $1.45 million raised between the live, silent and quick-draw auctions. The 2025 show also brought in more than $1.4 million.

The proceeds are split between the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, the Cody Country Chamber of Commerce, and local art organizations.

Most of that money comes from the live auction, where people get into good-natured bidding wars over pieces they want in their homes or galleries.

Like any artist, Rudolph is hoping “People Watching” will fetch a good price at auction so he can keep his career going. However, like most artists, he saidthere’s something special that makes the experience worth any price.

“I love the atmosphere,” he said. “I have a lot of friends that are here, and the camaraderie that develops is amazing. It’s a magical place.”

Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.