Show Preview | Western Visions Art Show + Sale

EACH SEPTEMBER, collectors, artists and wildlife enthusiasts gather beneath the Tetons for the Western Visions Art Show + Sale, one of the signature events of the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival in Wyoming. Hosted by the National Museum of Wildlife Art, this year’s exhibition will run September 5 to 27, with sale night taking place September 17 at the museum’s facility overlooking the National Elk Refuge.

Now one of the museum’s largest and longest-running fundraisers, Western Visions brings together 177 contemporary wildlife artists from around the world, including 13 first-time participants. The exhibition will feature 33 large-format works centered around this year’s theme, “Curiosity,” alongside 144 smaller works offered during the fixed-price draw sale.

According to the museum, the theme emerged organically from its mission. “Our vision is to inspire connections with wildlife and nature, and curiosity is often the first step in connection,” explains Madison Webb Stanko, the museum’s Chief Marketing Officer. Rather than simply celebrating wildlife imagery, the exhibition invites artists to explore the instinct to observe, question and engage more deeply with the world around them.

That spirit of exploration also extends to the artists themselves. Western Visions balances established names with emerging voices, creating opportunities for collectors to discover new perspectives within contemporary wildlife art. Among this year’s newcomers are Joyful Ward and Paul Puckett, both of whom bring marine subject matter into the exhibition— an area historically underrepresented within the show. Ward explores underwater worlds populated by whales and sea creatures, while Puckett focuses on sporting imagery tied to fishing culture.

The exhibition itself is the major attraction, and one its most distinctive elements remains the fixed-price draw format. Rather than bidding against one another at auction, collectors place their names into a digital drawing for the works they hope to purchase. If selected, they buy the artwork at the artist’s predetermined price. The structure creates a noticeably different atmosphere from a traditional auction setting—one rooted less in competition and more in anticipation.

“There is no opportunity to outbid someone, which allows emerging collectors an equal opportunity,” says Webb Stanko. “Each artist sets the price of their work, which also allows them to protect the value of their craft.” That unpredictability has become part of the event’s appeal. “You never know how many names are on a given piece, or if the odds will be in your favor,” she says. “That adds another layer of excitement and fun to sale night.”

For first-time visitors, Webb Stanko wants the event to leave an emotional impression beyond the artwork. “My hope is always that visitors will be inspired,” she says. “That they will find connection with the works and through the works connection to the natural world, and that the connection will bring them wonder, joy and serenity.” —Doreen Manning

contact informationwildlifeartevents.org

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

The post Show Preview | Western Visions Art Show + Sale appeared first on Southwest Art Magazine.