As one of Western art’s biggest nights approaches, meet some of the participating artists of this year’s Night of Artists.
The Briscoe Western Art Museum is gearing up for its 23rd annual Night of Artists, bringing together 86 leading contemporary Westerns artists for a showcase and sale of 288 new works of painting, sculpture, and mixed media.
Kicking off on March 22 in San Antonio, the weekend will include an opening celebration, the Annual Briscoe Bison Society Collectors Summit, exhibition preview, dinner, live auction, Artists Awards Breakfast, exhibition opening, and the storied “Luck of the Draw” sale. The public sale and exhibition will be available from March 24, 2024, to May 5, 2024.
Get to know some of the artists lined up to showcase their work at this year’s celebration. For the full artist lineup, check out the Briscoe Museum’s website.
Gerald Balciar
Born in Medford, Wisconsin, Gerald Balciar currently resides in Parker, Colorado, where he draws from his love of animals to create sculptures admired by zoologists and wildlife advocates as well as his fellow artists. Since casting his first bronze in 1964, Balciar has continued to sculpt award-winning creations and has been recognized by the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, the Autry Museum of the American West, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, the Society of Animal Artists, and more.
Balciar, Gerald, New Generation, 2023.
G. Russell Case
Born in Cedar City, Utah, G. Russell Case derived his interest in art from his father, who worked as a graphic illustrator for the federal government. Pulling inspiration from creation and idealized depictions of the American West, Case’s paintings depict timeless landscapes inhabited by lonesome cowboys and Native Americans. His award-winning work has been recognized by the Phippen Western Art Show, Coors Western Art, and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, among others.
Case, G. Russell, Fading Fast, 2024.
Nancy Dunlop Cawdrey
The daughter of a career officer, Nancy Dunlop Cawdrey grew up exposed to a variety of cultures, giving her a diverse array of inspirations to pull from when creating her artwork. After studying art in Paris and Great Britain, Cawdrey leant her eye for color and strong sense of design to depictions of the American West and its abounding nature. Cawdrey is a founding member of the Russell Skull Society of Artists and has been recognized by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame and Museum, and many others.
Kelly Singleton
Drawing inspiration from the wildlife she observed in her native rural Maryland, Kelly Singleton currently paints her wildlife masterpieces from her home in northern Colorado. After pursuing graphic art and design for 20 years, Singleton went full time with her painting in 2018 and hasn’t looked back. Singleton is a Signature Member of the Society of Animal Artists and has work housed in the permanent collection of the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Waussau, Wisconsin.
Singleton, Kerry, Crossing Over, 2023.
Kent Ullberg
Hailing from Sweden, Kent Ullberg has come to be known as one of the world’s foremost wildlife sculptors, specializing in depictions of wildlife native to the American West. Ullberg has artwork in museums across the globe, from Germany to Africa to Corpus Christi, Texas, where he currently resides. Ullberg is a member of several art organizations and has been recognized by the Briscoe Western Art Museum, the Society of Animal Artists, the National Museum of Wildlife Art, and more.
Ullberg, Kent, Listen to the Mockingbird, 2023.
Ezra Tucker
Ezra Tucker’s love for wildlife was sparked at the age of 7 while watching nature programs at home in Memphis, Tennessee. Beginning in the field of illustration, Tucker developed his career as a painter, eventually garnering critical acclaim for his work depicting animals and wildlife. His work has been featured at the Briscoe Western Art Museum, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, the C.M. Russell Museum, the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, and more.
Tucker, Ezra, Texas Longhorns, 2022.
Echo Ukrainetz
A native Montanan with a love for art developed before she could remember, Echo Ukrainetz took an unconventional route to her preferred artform of batik, swapping professional classes for trial and error. Embracing the unpredictability of the artform, Ukrainetz draws inspiration from her interest in history. Her work has been recognized by the Briscoe Western Art Museum, the C.M. Russell Art Auction and Show, the Phippen Museum Art Show, and more.
Ukrainetz, Echo, Before the Coyote Spilled the Stars, 2023.
Gladys Roldan-de-Moras
Readers may recognize Gladys Roldan-de-Moras from her recent induction into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame. Born in Monterrey, Mexico, Roldan-de-Moras is known for her unique portrayal of Spanish traditions, from romantic flamenco dancers to gallant Mexican escaramuzas. Her work resides in a plethora of private and public collections and has been featured in Fine Art Connoisseur, Art of the West, American Western Art Collector, and many more publications.
Roldan-de-Moras, Gladys, A Wonderful Day, 2024.
Billy Schenck
Another fan favorite, Billy Schenck is often credited as one of the originators of the Western pop art movement. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Schenck spent his childhood summers observing the wilderness of Lander, Wyoming, sparking his interest in Western landscapes. After studying art at Columbus College of Art and Design and Kansas City Art Institute, Schenck headed to New York, where photorealism, color field, and minimalism influenced the creation of his iconic style. Schenck has since gone on to be featured in over 60 museum collections, including the Smithsonian Institution, Albuquerque Museum, Briscoe Western Art Museum, and many more.
Schenck, Billy, Until We Meet Again, 2023.
Kevin Red Star
Born on the Crow Indian Reservation in Lodge Grass, Montana, Kevin Red Star presents a shining, bold vision of traditional Crow (Apsáalooke) culture through a contemporary lens. After attending the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe and receiving a full scholarship to the San Francisco Art Institute, Red Star rose to fame with his modern depictions of historical imagery. His award-winning work has been featured in numerous galleries, earning him the Autry Museum’s James R. Parks Trustees’ Purchase Award and the Montana Governor’s Award for the Arts.
Red Star, Kevin, Crow Mother and Daughters, 2023.
Get your tickets to Night of Artists here.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy Briscoe Western Art Museum
