by Marvin PittsSocials and Grant Writing for the Phippen Museum Award Ceremony on Saturday, April 18th at 11AMEach spring, the U.S. House of Representatives sponsors a nationwide high school art competition to recognize the talent of America’s young artists. And this year, the office of Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ), in conjunction with the Phippen Museum, is proud to once again host the Congressional Art Competition, which is open to all high school students in Arizona’s 2nd District.
by Marvin PittsSocials and Grant Writing for the Phippen Museum March 22nd – April 26th, 2026March 18, 2026 Contact: Edd Kellerman Phippen Museum (928) 778-1385 [email protected] Art lovers will experience the luminous beauty of watercolor as the Phippen Museum presents The Color of Light, a spring exhibition of artwork by members of the Northern Arizona Watercolor Society (NAWS). On display from March 22nd through April 26th, the exhibit features 33 accomplished NAWS artists, showcasing the expressive range and delicate brilliance that make watercolor such a captivating medium. From sweeping landscapes inspired by northern Arizona’s dramatic scenery to intricate studies of wildlife, florals, and everyday life, the collection celebrates the versatility of water media painting and the creativity of the region’s artistic community. Founded to foster and sustain interest in watercolor painting, NAWS has become a vibrant hub for artists across northern Arizona. While the organization was officially formed in 1995, its roots reach back even further. And over the decades, the society has grown into a lively network of artists united by their passion for watercolor. Members gather regularly for meetings that combine practical business updates with engaging artist demonstrations. These demos, often led by skilled watercolorists, offer attendees the opportunity to watch techniques unfold in real time, from subtle washes and glazing to bold color applications. Importantly, these gatherings are not limited to members. NAWS warmly welcomes the public to attend meetings and participate in many of its programs, making the organization a welcoming entry point for anyone curious about watercolor painting. The current exhibition at the Phippen Museum provides a vivid glimpse into the dedication and talent of this community. Museum members and visitors will encounter a diverse array of styles and subjects, unified by the luminous transparency and expressive spontaneity that define watercolor painting. So, whether you are a seasoned collector, an aspiring painter, or simply someone who appreciates beautiful art, don’t miss this incredible chance to experience fascinating watercolors in a truly one-of-a-kind setting. An award reception is scheduled on March 28th at 1PM and there will be a live demo by Stephen Quiller, a juried artist, prior to the reception from 11AM– 1PM. This is a must-see event, so don’t miss out. For more details, please visit PhippenArtMuseum.org.  The Trail Boss by LeAnne Sowa
2/27/2026 Experience the Magic of Small Works at the 23rd Annual Miniature Masterpiece Show & SaleRead Now by Marvin PittsSocials and Grant Writing for the Phippen Museum May 1st – 31st, 2026 |
 Hungry Hawk – Holly Weisel   | Prescott, AZ – Each year, Memorial Day weekend comes alive in beautiful, historic downtown Prescott, Arizona, as the Phippen Museum proudly presents its annual Western Art Show & Sale—one of the most anticipated western art events in the country. From May 23rd–25th, 2026, this beloved tradition returns bigger and better than ever, welcoming art collectors, museum lovers, and western art enthusiasts from across the nation. Many of today’s most celebrated western artists launched their careers right here, and this year more than 90 acclaimed artists from across America will gather once again at the stunning Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza. Visitors will enjoy a rare opportunity to view exceptional western art, meet the artists in person, and purchase original works directly from the master’s themselves. Adding to the excitement are two fan-favorite Quick Draw Challenges, where artists race against the clock to create a finished piece of artwork in just 60 minutes—followed immediately by a live art auction while the paint’s still wet! An inspiring artist award ceremony will also recognize outstanding talent across eight artistic mediums, including prestigious honors such as Best in Show, the George Phippen Memorial Foundation Award, and the People’s Choice Award. |
COURTHOUSE PLAZA EVENTS
52nd Annual Western Art Show & Sale
A cherished annual tradition that brings the best of western art and family-friendly entertainment.
May 23rd–24th | 9AM–5PM & May 25th | 9AM–3PM
FREE admission all weekend
Quick Draw Challenge & Live Art Auctions
Watch talented western artists race against the clock to complete stunning works of art in just 60 minutes.
Saturday & Sunday, May 23rd–24th | 2PM
• Courthouse Plaza North Steps
Arrive early—these thrilling events draw large crowds!
Kids Corral Art Tent
Presented in collaboration with the Mountain Artists Guild, this fun-filled opportunity is designed to inspire young artists with a creative, hands-on art activity.
Saturday & Sunday, May 23rd & 24th | 10AM – 2PM
Artist Award Ceremony
Celebrate the talent of the Show’s award-winning artists at the courthouse steps.
Sunday, May 24th | 11AM
• Courthouse Plaza North Steps
A cherished annual tradition that brings the best of western art and family-friendly entertainment.
May 23rd–24th | 9AM–5PM & May 25th | 9AM–3PM
FREE admission all weekend
Quick Draw Challenge & Live Art Auctions
Watch talented western artists race against the clock to complete stunning works of art in just 60 minutes.
Saturday & Sunday, May 23rd–24th | 2PM
• Courthouse Plaza North Steps
Arrive early—these thrilling events draw large crowds!
Kids Corral Art Tent
Presented in collaboration with the Mountain Artists Guild, this fun-filled opportunity is designed to inspire young artists with a creative, hands-on art activity.
Saturday & Sunday, May 23rd & 24th | 10AM – 2PM
Artist Award Ceremony
Celebrate the talent of the Show’s award-winning artists at the courthouse steps.
Sunday, May 24th | 11AM
• Courthouse Plaza North Steps
PHIPPEN MUSEUM EVENTS
The celebration continues at the Museum with a full lineup of special events. And general admission is FREE all Memorial Day weekend.
Hometown Hoedown Dinner
Enjoy an evening of western hospitality with cocktails, live entertainment, and a ranch-style dinner – all while mingling with the Show’s participating artists.
Saturday, May 23rd | 5:30PM (Reservations Required)
$80 for Museum Members & $90 for Guests | Reservations: (928) 778-1385
23rd Annual Miniature Masterpiece Show & Sale
Featuring more than 70 renowned western artists, this popular exhibit and sale showcases outstanding small-scale works at fixed prices, with viewing available in person and online at www.phippenartmuseum.org
May 1st – May 31st
Miniature Masterpiece Sale by Draw
Luck determines the winning buyers, so you’ll want to be sure to place your intent to purchase before the draw begins!
Monday, May 25th | 11AM
Make plans now to experience an unforgettable Memorial Day weekend filled with outstanding fine art, rich western heritage, and warm hometown charm. Because Prescott, Arizona is the place to be!
Founded in 1984 and named in honor of George Phippen, co-founder and first president of the Cowboy Artists of America, the Phippen Museum continues its mission more than 40 years later to preserve and present outstanding Art of the American West.
For more information or to reserve your place at the Hometown Hoedown, please contact the Phippen Museum at (928)-778-1385.
Hometown Hoedown Dinner
Enjoy an evening of western hospitality with cocktails, live entertainment, and a ranch-style dinner – all while mingling with the Show’s participating artists.
Saturday, May 23rd | 5:30PM (Reservations Required)
$80 for Museum Members & $90 for Guests | Reservations: (928) 778-1385
23rd Annual Miniature Masterpiece Show & Sale
Featuring more than 70 renowned western artists, this popular exhibit and sale showcases outstanding small-scale works at fixed prices, with viewing available in person and online at www.phippenartmuseum.org
May 1st – May 31st
Miniature Masterpiece Sale by Draw
Luck determines the winning buyers, so you’ll want to be sure to place your intent to purchase before the draw begins!
Monday, May 25th | 11AM
Make plans now to experience an unforgettable Memorial Day weekend filled with outstanding fine art, rich western heritage, and warm hometown charm. Because Prescott, Arizona is the place to be!
Founded in 1984 and named in honor of George Phippen, co-founder and first president of the Cowboy Artists of America, the Phippen Museum continues its mission more than 40 years later to preserve and present outstanding Art of the American West.
For more information or to reserve your place at the Hometown Hoedown, please contact the Phippen Museum at (928)-778-1385.
Contact: Edd Kellerman
Executive Director
Phippen Museum
(928) 778-1385
[email protected]
Perched on five beautiful acres of the historic Deep Well Ranch in Arizona’s Central Highlands, the Phippen Museum is framed by sweeping views of the dramatic granite boulder formations of Granite Dells. This striking landscape once served as a filming location for silent Westerns in the 1920s—including productions starring legendary cowboy actor Tom Mix—firmly anchoring the museum within the region’s rich Western heritage.
Serving as a welcoming gateway to Granite Dells, Prescott, and the museum itself, the Phippen stands as a permanent tribute to artist George Phippen—an honor both fitting and deeply deserved. While George would no doubt be humbled and proud of the recognition, he would surely be even more grateful for the unwavering encouragement and devotion of his wife and life partner, Louise. Her steadfast support made his life’s work, and its enduring legacy, possible.
Naming the museum after George Phippen—local artist and first president of the Cowboy Artists of America—was a natural choice. His inspirational character, exceptional artistic talent, and lasting influence on Western art helped define the genre for generations to come. Yet beyond his titles and accolades, George Phippen was, at his core, a born Western artist.
From a very young age, George demonstrated a passion for depicting life in the West. He sketched cattle drives on the chalkboard of his one-room schoolhouse and sculpted livestock from clay gathered along nearby creek banks. Those early expressions of creativity hinted at a lifelong dedication to capturing the spirit of the American West with authenticity and heart.
What endeared George most to others, however, was his keen sense of humor and lighthearted spirit—qualities that infused his artwork and allowed it to transcend the Western genre. His work reflects a universal human experience, revealing humor in hardship and presenting the West as both genuine and relatable. It is this warmth and humanity that continues to resonate with audiences today.
Together with fellow artists Johnny Hampton, Charlie Dye, and Joe Beeler, George co-founded the Cowboy Artists of America to elevate this all-American art form and champion artists committed to portraying the West from an everyman’s perspective. His leadership as the organization’s first president further underscores his importance within the field and his dedication to supporting fellow artists.
George’s life experiences also shaped his work. During the Great Depression, he served in the Civilian Conservation Corps and later was inducted into the U.S. Army during World War II, where he worked as a photographer and cartographer for Coast Artillery. Through it all, his commitment to art never wavered.
At the time of his death in 1966, at the age of fifty, George was completing a sculpture titled Cowboy in a Storm. The complex bronze embodies all the hallmarks of his work—technical accuracy, narrative clarity, and gentle humor. Today, that piece is realized on a monumental scale and stands proudly in the roundabout at the entrance to the Phippen Museum, welcoming visitors just as George himself once welcomed others.
Although George never witnessed the realization of the museum that bears his name, his spirit is woven throughout it. When plans for a Western art museum were first initiated in 1974, it was his friends, family, and fellow artists who rallied public support and raised the funds to bring the vision to life. Through their collective enthusiasm, the community’s generosity, and proceeds from an annual Western Art Show & Sale, the museum opened its doors in 1984.
Since then, the show has grown into a beloved Memorial Day weekend tradition, continuing to support the museum’s mission of preserving and promoting the Art of the American West.
If you’d like to support Prescott’s only fine art museum, visit PhippenArtMuseum.org to donate, become a member or volunteer, or sponsor this May’s 52nd annual Western Art Show & Sale.
Executive Director
Phippen Museum
(928) 778-1385
[email protected]
Perched on five beautiful acres of the historic Deep Well Ranch in Arizona’s Central Highlands, the Phippen Museum is framed by sweeping views of the dramatic granite boulder formations of Granite Dells. This striking landscape once served as a filming location for silent Westerns in the 1920s—including productions starring legendary cowboy actor Tom Mix—firmly anchoring the museum within the region’s rich Western heritage.
Serving as a welcoming gateway to Granite Dells, Prescott, and the museum itself, the Phippen stands as a permanent tribute to artist George Phippen—an honor both fitting and deeply deserved. While George would no doubt be humbled and proud of the recognition, he would surely be even more grateful for the unwavering encouragement and devotion of his wife and life partner, Louise. Her steadfast support made his life’s work, and its enduring legacy, possible.
Naming the museum after George Phippen—local artist and first president of the Cowboy Artists of America—was a natural choice. His inspirational character, exceptional artistic talent, and lasting influence on Western art helped define the genre for generations to come. Yet beyond his titles and accolades, George Phippen was, at his core, a born Western artist.
From a very young age, George demonstrated a passion for depicting life in the West. He sketched cattle drives on the chalkboard of his one-room schoolhouse and sculpted livestock from clay gathered along nearby creek banks. Those early expressions of creativity hinted at a lifelong dedication to capturing the spirit of the American West with authenticity and heart.
What endeared George most to others, however, was his keen sense of humor and lighthearted spirit—qualities that infused his artwork and allowed it to transcend the Western genre. His work reflects a universal human experience, revealing humor in hardship and presenting the West as both genuine and relatable. It is this warmth and humanity that continues to resonate with audiences today.
Together with fellow artists Johnny Hampton, Charlie Dye, and Joe Beeler, George co-founded the Cowboy Artists of America to elevate this all-American art form and champion artists committed to portraying the West from an everyman’s perspective. His leadership as the organization’s first president further underscores his importance within the field and his dedication to supporting fellow artists.
George’s life experiences also shaped his work. During the Great Depression, he served in the Civilian Conservation Corps and later was inducted into the U.S. Army during World War II, where he worked as a photographer and cartographer for Coast Artillery. Through it all, his commitment to art never wavered.
At the time of his death in 1966, at the age of fifty, George was completing a sculpture titled Cowboy in a Storm. The complex bronze embodies all the hallmarks of his work—technical accuracy, narrative clarity, and gentle humor. Today, that piece is realized on a monumental scale and stands proudly in the roundabout at the entrance to the Phippen Museum, welcoming visitors just as George himself once welcomed others.
Although George never witnessed the realization of the museum that bears his name, his spirit is woven throughout it. When plans for a Western art museum were first initiated in 1974, it was his friends, family, and fellow artists who rallied public support and raised the funds to bring the vision to life. Through their collective enthusiasm, the community’s generosity, and proceeds from an annual Western Art Show & Sale, the museum opened its doors in 1984.
Since then, the show has grown into a beloved Memorial Day weekend tradition, continuing to support the museum’s mission of preserving and promoting the Art of the American West.
If you’d like to support Prescott’s only fine art museum, visit PhippenArtMuseum.org to donate, become a member or volunteer, or sponsor this May’s 52nd annual Western Art Show & Sale.
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