More than $1 million in exceptional Western art was sold at the Eiteljorg Quest for the West® Art Show and Sale, held September 6-7, 2024, at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in downtown Indianapolis.
The opening weekend included two fixed-price, luck-of-the-draw sales and an awards banquet. So far, the amount of art sold to buyers totals $1,034,405 and counting. While Quest for the West is a museum fundraising event, 75 percent of sales proceeds go directly to artists, with remaining proceeds benefiting the Eiteljorg. Any artworks not sold during Quest weekend – including paintings as well as additional casts of bronze sculptures – can be purchased through October 6.
Quest Art Awards
Brett Allen Johnson of Lehi, Utah, received the Harrison Eiteljorg Purchase Award for his painting “Pueblo Shapes” (shown at top). The Western Art Society, a group of enthusiastic museum supporters, purchased the painting to add to the Eiteljorg’s collections and sponsored the award.
An oil painting by Dean Mitchell of Tampa, Florida, “Below the Mountain,” won the Henry Farny Award for Best Painting, sponsored by Steve and Jane Marmon.
A bronze sculpture of a raven by Dave LaMure, Jr. of Kimberly, Idaho, “The Seeker,” received the Cyrus Dallin Award for Best Sculpture, sponsored by Michael and Carla Leppert.
Artist David Griffin of Dallas, Texas, received the Victor Higgins Award of Distinction, sponsored by Catherine Turner, for the best overall body of work presented at the show.
Quest artists voted to select the recipient of the Artists’ Choice Award, sponsored by Phyllis Cockerill. The award went to artist Dave Santillanes of Fort Collins, Colorado, for his painting, “The Cache La Poudre River.”
In a vote by attendees, a painting by Bruce Lawes of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Her “Frozen Fortress” won the Patrons’ Choice Award, sponsored by Tom and Patty Gibbs.
Lawes also won a second award, in the brand-new category of the Miniature Art Show Patrons’ Choice Award, for his smaller painting, “On Golden Pond.” That award is sponsored by David and Giselle Found.
Find more details at eiteljorg.org/quest-for-the-west.
Browse more western art here at FineArtConnoisseur.com.
