Show Preview | Scottsdale Art Auction

A staple of the Western art collector community, the 2026 Scottsdale Art Auction happens April 10 and 11 in Old Town Scottsdale at Legacy Gallery. The event draws a wide array of collectors, dealers and art aficionados each year by featuring a broad selection of historic and contemporary American, Western, sporting and wildlife art.

The Scottsdale Art Auction includes more than 460 lots—one of the auction house’s largest offerings to date. There is an especially diverse collection of art available this year that represents the breadth and depth of the Western art canon. Highlights include works by stalwarts John Clymer, Richard Schmid and Frederic Remington, who is represented by a bronze BRONCO BUSTER (est. $250,000-$350,000).

A career-encompassing selection of paintings and drawings by Western artist and illustrator Will James from the collection of Abe Hays hits the market. Last year Scottsdale Art Auction offered Hays’s collection of works by Maynard Dixon, and these pieces by James are another standout group that includes A HEELER IN THE SLACK (est. $50,000-$70,000).

Among the most notable works for sale is a selection of art by 20th-century painter Nicolai Fechin. Fechin’s CARMENCITA, a contemplative portrait of a Pueblo girl, has never before come to market and is estimated to sell between $600,000 and $900,000. The painting evokes a quiet warmth with a deft combination of saturated colors, expressive brushstrokes and classically naturalistic features. Other works by the artist include a floral still life, which is expected to sell between $300,000 to $400,000, and the small portrait CONSUELO with an estimate of $175,000 to $275,000.

Along with Fechin, art by other members of the historic Taos Society of Artists are highlighted including Oscar Berninghaus, E. Martin Hennings, Joseph Henry Sharp and Eanger Irving Couse. Couse’s A WEAVER, estimated at $300,000 to $500,000, offers a glimpse into the process of a Native American artist as he manipulates the threads on a loom. Couse’s attention to detail brings to life the small but impactful actions of the weaver’s hands as well as his focus and intention.

A number of contemporary artists appear on the roster, including Eric Bowman, Glenn Dean, Logan Maxwell Hagege, Kyle Polzin, Fritz Scholder and Ed Mell. Mell, who passed away in 2024, is one of Arizona’s most recognized artists. His painting RAIN AND RUNOFF, estimated at $28,000 to $38,000, exemplifies his modernist approach to the vast Southwest landscape. By focusing on the fundamental shapes, lines and colors that comprise the scene, the artist reveals the power and magnificence of the natural world.

Beginning in 2005 with a single annual sale, the auction house now offers two major sales every year: the flagship event in April and a second auction in August. The popular events routinely see several hundred registered buyers, and it’s not uncommon for them to log auction records. For the 2026 sale, collectors can register to bid in-person through the website in advance or at the gallery on the day of the auction. Those not attending in person can participate online, via phone or by absentee bid. A preview of the works for sale opens to the public March 23 in the auction’s showroom. Printed catalogs are available by calling the auction office.

“Historically, we’re often the first major Western art auction of the year, and that timing matters,” says Brad Richardson, Legacy Gallery owner and auction co-owner. “Scottsdale Art Auction has a reputation for setting the tone for the market—giving collectors, artists and institutions an early and meaningful snapshot of where Western art is headed in the year ahead.” —Elizabeth L. Delaney

contact information(480) 945-0225scottsdaleartauction.com

This story appeared in the April/May 2026 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Subscribe today to read every issue in its entirety.

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