((L-R) Fixated Prophecy by Valerie Winterholler, No Sheriff Here by J. Dylan Cavin and Nine Chiefs by Arturo Garcia)
Art in the West Reveals New Visions of the High Desert
From canvas to photographs to sculptures, the 2026 Art in the West exhibition and online auction features the very best of art inspired by the High Desert. This year’s exhibition, which opened on July 18, celebrates the people, wildlife, landscapes, cultures and history of the region that stretches from the eastern slope of the Cascades and the Sierra to the Rockies.
“The diverse artistry that continues to captivate our community in this exhibition, and the 2026 Art in the West collection in particular, is exceptional,” said Museum Executive Director Dana Whitelaw, Ph.D. “These pieces reveal fresh, unique perspectives of the High Desert, challenging us to see the region’s landscapes and cultures through a modern lens and deepening our collective appreciation for the West.”
The 2026 Jury’s Choice winner is Peter Dawson’s Infinity #3363, Eastern Oregon, a captivating and dramatic photograph of an expansive western sky above a stark High Desert landscape. Dawson is a photographer of the American West. His work has been featured at Modern West Fine Art in Salt Lake City, Utah, and The Oregon Center for Photographic Arts in Portland. His signature style has attracted commercial clients like Land Rover, Subaru, and Nike, as well as editorial features in The New York Times Magazine.
Natalie Kirk (Warm Springs) was taught basketry by master weaver and Warm Springs resident, Eraina Palmer. Both women worked together at The Museum at Warm Springs. Kirk’s work, Yamash in Thunderbird of Nch’I Wana, is the 2026 Curator’s Choice award winner. Made of yarn, smoked elk hide, and seed beads, the colorful basket depicts the thunderbird against a bright blue sky. Kirk holds various awards for her basketry, including Judges Choice awards for the years 2000 and 2026. She considers herself a contemporary weaver and artist, with her baskets included in collections at The Hallie Ford Museum in Salem, Oregon, and The Autry Museum in Los Angeles, California. Kirk has taught basketry to many eager students throughout her years.
Another artist returns to the Museum for Art in the West. Frank Buffalo Hyde’s GLHF – How the west was won #2 (acrylic on canvas) continues the renowned Indigenous artist’s use of color and graphic style to blend modern reality with Indigenous history.
The entire 2026 collection will be on exhibit at the High Desert Museum and available for viewing through the Museum’s online auction page at highdesertmuseum.org/aiw. The auction is exclusively online, and shipping is available.
The bidding concludes, and the exhibition closes on Friday, October 2, at the Art in the West Closing Party at the Museum. Attendees will have the opportunity to mingle with participating artists, watch live demonstrations, and enjoy food and libations. The event begins at 6pm, and the auction closes at 7pm. Register today at highdesertmuseum.org/events/aiw-closing-party-2026.
Art in the West is made possible by Western Art Collector and American Art Collector magazines and Campfire Hotel, with support from High Desert Frameworks and Willamette Valley Vineyards.