Artists of the Horse

Since the frontiers of the American West were explored and settled, the horse has become its icon, representing freedom, individualism, toughness, determination, and the idiosyncratic way of life inherent to the region. The horse was a vital partner of the cowboy, Native American, and settler of this new frontier. As time went on, the image of the horse came to represent a new romanticism of the West, with many artists devoted to depicting the singular partnership between horse and cowboy. Building on their expertise in Western art and horses in particular, Heidi Brady and Scott White have collected pieces from artists who have spent their lives capturing and creating images of these majestic animals. The chapters, or profiles, were compiled from interviews with artists and are rendered in their own voices. A study of award-winning contemporary artists, Artists of the Horse: Capturing the Spirit of America's West profiles painters, photographers, and sculptors, each artist describing the circumstances that influenced how they approach the portrayal of the horse. Through different styles and perspectives, this book works to preserve the heritage of the Western way of life and the centrality of the horse in telling its story.