Quest for the West results
At the 17th annual Quest for the West® Art Show and Sale at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis, artist Nathan Solano, center, was recognized with the Harrison Eiteljorg Purchase Award on Sept. 10. With him are Quest for the West Chair Cathy Turner, left, and Eiteljorg President and CEO John Vanausdall, right. Image courtesy of Brittany Erwin Photography

More than $1 million in high-end Western art was sold September 9-10 during the Quest for the West® Art Show and Sale, held at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in downtown Indianapolis. At the 17th annual Quest for the West, 304 collectors and guests were able to purchase art created by 50 of the nation’s leading Western American artists.

More from the organizers:

This year’s luck-of-the-draw sale and awards dinner was memorable for two reasons: It was the first museum event held in the Eiteljorg Museum’s newly expanded multipurpose space, the Allen Whitehill Clowes Sculpture Court, since its summer renovation. And, this was the final year that Eiteljorg President and CEO John Vanausdall presided over the popular event as emcee before his retirement next year.

“For 17 years, the Quest for the West Art Show and Sale has been a major initiative for the Eiteljorg Museum. It has built support for Western American art and artists and raised the museum’s profile nationally in the art world,” Vanausdall said. “Quest also provides the general public an opportunity to experience some breathtaking art during the month-long exhibit, and we are grateful to the curators, museum staff, volunteers and sponsors who make it possible.”

Harrison Eiteljorg Purchase Award
Harrison Eiteljorg Purchase Award
Nathan Solano of Pueblo, Colorado
Portrait of a Cowboy, 2022
Acrylic on canvas on board
30 x 40 inches
Sponsored by the Western Art Society

Including artworks sold during the Quest main sale Saturday, smaller artworks by the same artists purchased at the Quest miniature art sale on Friday and additional pieces purchased since then, a total of $1,087,415 in Quest art has been sold so far this year. Collectors could purchase in person or as absentee buyers. Most sales proceeds go directly to the artists, with the museum receiving a percentage. Any artworks not sold during Quest weekend (paintings as well as additional casts of bronze sculptures) can be purchased through Oct. 9; visit quest.eiteljorg.org for a list of artworks available.

Artists at Quest for the West were recognized with awards in multiple categories. A painting by Nathan Solano of Pueblo, Colorado, Portrait of a Cowboy, received the Harrison Eiteljorg Purchase Award, meaning it was acquired for the museum by sponsor The Western Art Society and is added to the museum’s collections. A painting by Dave Santillanes of Fort Collins, Colorado, Silence of Winter, won two awards: the Henry Farny Award for Best Painting, sponsored by Stephen and Jane Marmon; and the Artists’ Choice Award, sponsored by Phyllis Cockerill.

Henry Farny Award for Best Painting
Henry Farny Award for Best Painting, Sponsored by Stephen and Jane Marmon; and The Artists’ Choice Award, given in recognition of the work most popular with Quest artists, Sponsored by Phyllis Cockerill
Dave Santillanes of Fort Collins, Colorado
Silence of Winter, 2022
Oil
24 x 38 inches

In other Quest awards, artist Dean Mitchell of Tampa, Florida, was honored with the Victor Higgins Award of Distinction, sponsored by Catherine Turner, for the best body of work presented at the show. A bronze sculpture by Tim Cherry of Branson, Missouri, Migration, received the Cyrus Dallin Award for Best Sculpture, sponsored by Mike and Carla Leppert. A painting by Gladys Roldan-de-Moras of San Antonio, Texas, Anticipation, received the Patrons’ Choice Award, sponsored by Stan and Sandy Hurt.

Victor Higgins Award of Distinction
Victor Higgins Award of Distinction, for best body of work presented in the show
Dean Mitchell of Tampa, Florida, for work including:
Vast Land of Dreams, 2022
Acrylic
18 x 20 inches
Sponsored by Catherine Turner
The Cyrus Dallin Award for Best Sculpture
The Cyrus Dallin Award for Best Sculpture
Tim Cherry of Branson, Missouri
Migration, 2022
Bronze
16 x 36 x 5 inches
Sponsored by Mike and Carla Leppert
Patrons’ Choice Award
Patrons’ Choice Award, given in recognition of the work voted most popular by Quest patrons
Gladys Roldan-de-Moras of San Antonio, Texas
Anticipation, 2022
Oil on linen
40 x 30 inches
Sponsored by Stan and Sandy Hurt

Meanwhile, the Quest paintings and sculptures, whether sold or not, remain on view at the Eiteljorg for one month for the general public to enjoy before purchased works are shipped to their buyers. The Quest for the West art exhibition is included with regular admission and continues through Oct. 9. A beautifully illustrated 2022 Quest for the West art catalog is available in the Frank and Katrina Basile Museum Store.


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