Jackson Hole Art Trends

+ Story by Rich Anderson

More galleries now offer more options from around the art world.

The trend in the Jackson Hole art scene continues to be more: more galleries, more sales, more options. The past five years have seen at least as many galleries open—Astoria Fine Arts, Lyndsay McCandless Contemporary, RARE Gallery, Trio Fine Art and Wild Exposures, to name but a few.

Growing Interest in Contemporary Art
More specifically, Jackson Hole's art market continues to enjoy a boost thanks to growing interest in contemporary art. While many long-standing "traditional" western galleries have included an artist or two who didn't quite fit the mold (Larry Pirney at West Lives On, Bill Schenck at Trailside, Donna Howell-Sickles at Legacy, Leo Osborn at Jack Dennis’ Wyoming Gallery), five now specialize in the wide-ranging genre, including established galleries like Center Street and Muse (recently settled into new digs on South Glenwood), and relative newcomers Meyer-Milagros and Lyndsay McCandless Contemporary.

In addition, Craft Gallery on King Street and A Horse of a Different Color off East Broadway display contemporary home furnishings, and the nonprofit Art Association—always a bastion of challenging and engaging contemporary shows—is enjoying new visibility and vitality in its home at the Center for the Arts.

"I think we all agree we’ll always be home to western and wildlife art," said Mariam Diehl, co-owner of Meyer-Milagros where the art ranges from sublime (Chris Reilly) to surreal (Ann Krasner), "but it’s nice to have something in addition to that, and we seem to be holding up—none of us has gone out of business."

Tayloe Piggott at Muse Gallery said expanding into the contemporary market has been and will continue to be an important part of establishing Jackson Hole as a genuine art town.

"If we can get a contemporary art scene recognized in Jackson Hole, we'll have more artists with bigger names who are frontrunners in the art world interested in showing here," she said. "It would be wonderful to see some of them in our galleries. We already see some of the top living and deceased western artists in our galleries. As we grow and get known, you’re going to be able to come to Jackson Hole and see top artists in the contemporary art world as well."

"Traditional" Galleries Taking On More Contemporary Art
Meanwhile, many other galleries that have long specialized in "traditional" western art have taken on contemporary artists, too. "We find collectors in Jackson enjoy both," said Mark D. Tarrant, gallery director at Mountain Trails, which in the past four years has gone from being almost strictly traditional to a balanced combination of traditional and contemporary, having brought John Nieto, Thom Ross, Amy Ringholz and Rocky Hawking into its fold. "A percentage of collectors want only traditional art, but more and more, many of those who live and come through here like both."

Galleries are bound to recognize these facts and do their best to exploit them. Many try to keep the art they offer relevant to Jackson Hole consumers but continue to push the envelope, not just to reflect the interests of those gallery owners but to try to make art matter in Jackson Hole.

"I think it’s very healthy," said Bob Moeller, an art advisor based in Jackson who helps clients start and grow collections. The rise of the contemporary can only enhance the valley’s overall art experience, he said. "And I think it’s neat, because when I first came here there was relatively little interest in this contemporary alternative." He hopes to see even more in the future.