Prix de West Award Winners Announced
The sale of the 48th Annual Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition & Sale isn’t the only aspect of the nation’s premier Western art exhibition and sale that’s gone virtual: In a format befitting of 2020, the Prix de West committee presented the 2020 awards virtually to the winning artists this afternoon, August 14, via video conference.
“We wanted the thrill and excitement of announcing this year’s winners to come through even if we were hosting the announcement virtually,” said Natalie Shirley, The Cowboy’s president. “These winners are truly deserving, and it was wonderful to gather and celebrate them, even if it was from a safe distance this year.”
In addition, The Cowboy is pleased to offer a fully virtual tour of the entire Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition. The virtual tour, produced by 3D Scans Plus, allows Western art enthusiasts from around the world to tour the entire Prix de West exhibition and view each piece of art as if they were standing in the gallery. View the virtual tour and online catalog at nationalcowboymuseum.org/prixdewest.
48th Annual Prix de West Invitational Art Show Winners
Prix de West Purchase Award:
Bill Anton received the top-honored Prix de West Purchase Award, which is given to the artist whose work of art is selected by the Prix de West Committee and purchased for the Museum’s permanent collection.
Anton won for his painting titled Makeshift Ambulance. In addition to the purchase price, Anton will receive the Prix de West medallion and an award of $5,000 sponsored by Roberta M. Eldridge Miller.
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“I’ve done this show for 23 years and it’s been a joy in my life,” said Anton. “It’s an honor just to be in the same building as the other Prix de West artists.”
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In 2009, Anton won both the Prix de West Robert Lougheed Memorial Award and the Express Ranches Great American Cowboy Award. He captured the Express Ranches award again in 2011 and 2018.
“We want to congratulate Bill on his exceptional work and the recognition of the Purchase Award this year,” Shirley said. “He is an exceptional talent in the Western Art world, and we are honored to add this piece to the Museum’s permanent collection.”
All art remains on display through September 13, and all but the Purchase Award winner are available for purchase in this year’s proxy-bid-only virtual sale. Proxy bids for the fixed-bid sale will be accepted until the night of the sale Sept. 12, when the typical in-person sale will be replaced with an exciting virtual experience.
To view the virtual tour and online catalog, see all 2020 award winners, as well as more details on submitting proxy bids, visit nationalcowboymuseum.org/prixdewest.
About the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
Nationally accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is located only six miles northeast of downtown Oklahoma City in the Adventure District at the junction of Interstates 44 and 35. For more information, visit nationalcowboymuseum.org.
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