This collection of photos and essays showcases the Autry Museum of the American West’s Art of the West exhibit.
“Through the art of the American West, we come to know the circumstances and broader histories that continue to inform its making.” –Excerpt from Art of the West: Selected Works from the Autry Museum
Since its founding in 1988 by Gene and Jackie Autry, along with Monte and Joanne Hale, the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles, California, has expanded to include all types of Western art and artifacts. Its collections span different styles, mediums, cultures and centuries. This book showcases the diversity of the museum’s collections and the importance of each facet of art to Western history and culture.
Edited by Amy Scott, the museum’s chief curator and Marilyn B. and Calvin B. Gross Curator of Visual Arts, the lavishly illustrated book is divided into 11 chapters. Each one represents a different type of artwork on display at the museum, and includes an essay about the art and its impact.
The book offers readers insight into the broad spectrum of what is referred to as “Western art.” In the Autry Museum’s case, this may be art by women or Native Americans; that featuring horses or beadwork; landscapes; photography showing the American West and its people; and contemporary or religious art.
The insights are fascinating and the featured art provides a glimpse at the history of the West through various artists’ eyes. It will spur readers to visit the museum and learn more about what it offers.
