The Far West Show was nothing short of brilliant—a perfect curation and execution by Petecia, Mark, and the rest of the team. Every decision they made, every detail they considered, was filled with so much love and care that the show had no option but success.
It was a blend of so many different storytellers. From Mark’s awe-inspiring works that auctioned for over 300,000 each, to Thomas Blackshear’s Tiffany Lamp, John Isaiah Pepion’s ledger art, Drew Christie’s use of color, and Kevin Chupnik’s mid-century modern cowboys—the diversity, yet cohesiveness, of the art was unbelievable.
Le Fawnhawk’s room, which featured her clothing line, photography, and video, was another highlight. The desert surrealism she created is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. She’s built such a unique universe within the West—highly creative, deeply contemporary, and completely her own.
While Mark and Petecia are clearly some of the most talented people I’ve ever met, an attribute they possess that rivals their talent is their taste. They know what works, and they know how to execute.
Some people see the art world as snobby or pretentious—and much of it is. But this show was run by artists, and there wasn’t an ounce of either of those things in The Far West Show. I’m not sure a single disagreement happened the entire weekend.
Somehow, I was lucky enough to find myself included in this show. I couldn’t be more grateful to have my paintings alongside these Western art giants.
I also want to shout out some fellow younger artists who made unbelievable work: Jack Browning, a freak talent who’s about to become a very famous country singer and a very famous oil painter at the same time—absolute legend. Jacob Lovett, who paints literal windows into the West—his work is some of the coolest out there. And Elwyn Shorthair, whose art is among the most distinct and beautiful I’ve ever seen.
I’m certain this power house of a show will continue to grow every year, and I am grateful I was able to be a part of it.
- Julian