Art in the West Exhibition and Auction | 7/8-9/22 | Bend, OR

Regional Reflections

The High Desert Museum celebrates art of the West in its annual exhibition and sale.

On July 8, the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon, will unveil a diverse collection of traditional and contemporary art in its annual Art in the West exhibition and silent auction. This year’s juried exhibition will feature over 90 works of art by dozens of acclaimed artists from across the country.

Mingle with artists, watch live demonstrations and enjoy live music, food and drink at the Art the West closing party on September 22.

The High Desert stretches across 11 states—collectively known as the Intermountain West—filled with spectacular landscapes and vibrant rural and urban cultures. “Artists respond to these people and places, and as a result, Art in the West taps into that present-day vitality in new and interesting ways, together sharing a vision of what might be called the ‘next West,’” says museum executive director Dana Whitelaw.

Art in the West showcases paintings, sculpture and photography inspired by the landscape, cultures and wildlife of the High Desert. Mediums run the gamut and include oil, acrylic, pastel, charcoal, mixed media, graphite, steel, bronze, woodcut, watercolor, pastel, feathers, egg tempera, sagebrush, spray paint, photography and fused glass and ink.

Taylor Manoles, Painted Hills, oil, 38 x 38"

Taylor Manoles received the Curator’s Choice Award for Painted Hills. About the inspiration for the oil painting, Manoles says, “What makes Painted Hills a special piece to me is how it highlights the passing of time, on both a small and large scale. Throughout the day, the sun dances on the hills, creating different shadows and colors, from pale yellows to deep reds, all intensifying in the evening sun. The Painted Hills feel otherworldly, and lead us to a natural curiosity about how they came to be and a greater appreciation for the world we inhabit.”

Art in the West will also feature works by artists in their permanent collection, including four by iconic photographer Barbara Van Cleve, including Moving On which won the Jury’s Choice Award.

James Moore, Vespers, bronze, 12 x 22"

“The High Desert spans the Rockies at its eastern edge to the Cascades to the west,” says Whitelaw. “It’s an expanse of diverse wildlife, history and cultures, and is often subtle—its wonders are in the vast skies, the green of the desert in spring, the rivers and tributaries that serve as the lifeblood of the region, and the peoples whose cultures have flourished in this place since time immemorial. This dynamic sparks an immense range of interpretations and creativity, and it makes Art in the West an engaging exhibition every year, with unexpected interpretations of place. I appreciate the unique voice of each artist selected for the exhibition—they all express varied points of view about what is perhaps a lesser-known region. And I think that sense of discovery is powerful for all those who experience the art, whether in person or online.”

Lindsey Tucker, Welcoming a New Shape, oil on canvas, 52 x 46"

Bidding will be available online beginning in July with the opportunity to purchase artwork outright. Opening bids for the art range from $225 to $8,500. The bidding and exhibition concludes with the Art in the West closing party at the High Desert Museum on September 22 beginning at 6 p.m. —

Art in the West
July 7-September 22, 2023
High Desert Museum, 59800 US-97, Bend OR 97702
(542) 382-4754, www.highdesertmuseum.org