01 Oct Buffalo Bill Art Show Generates Over $1 Million

More than $1,023,000 worth of art was sold when the gavel dropped on the last art piece during the 38th annual Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale—bringing an end to another successful series of events.

The Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale benefits the Cody Country Chamber of Commerce and the prestigious Buffalo Bill Center of the West and is held in conjunction with the Center’s Patrons Ball and the By Western Hands exhibit. The Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, The Patrons’ Ball and the exhibition at By Western Hands and the many events of the week comprise Cody’s annual “Rendezvous Royale.” Rendezvous Royale has tremendous value to the Chamber, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and to the community. It is without a doubt the most successful ‘shoulder season event’ bringing hundreds of people to Cody each year.

The show, produced by the Cody Country Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, generated more than $1 million in total art sales. The gross revenue from the events, to include sponsorships, art and ticket sales, is estimated at $1.4 million. There were over 900 people in attendance between the live auction and dinner, Friday, Sept. 20 and the Quick Draw, Saturday Sept. 21. This year, nearly 80 of the 106 artists were in attendance accompanied by their supportive family and friends.

The Live Auction’s highest selling piece went to Ron Kingswood. Kingswood’s piece Feast Day sold for $27,500. The Spirit of the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale Winner, Whitney Halls’s piece White Feather netted the second largest sum at $22,500. Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine announced their award for Best in Show which was awarded to Adam Smith’s Valley Thunder.

The ever-popular Quick Draw event drew in hundreds of all ages to observe 35 artists complete a work of art in 1.5 hours. The Quick Draw’s People’s Choice Award was awarded to David Fredrick Riley’s piece which sold at $15,000. PleinAir Magazine’s Best in Quick Draw award was presented to two artists this year, Michele Usibelli and Krystii Melaine.

The Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale is a fine art sale with a contemporary Western theme, offering works relating to the land, people and wildlife of the American West. Artists offer a broad range of stylistic interpretations of the West, in oil painting, watercolor, pastel, sculpture, ceramic and mixed media. All works are original art.

Dates for the 2020 Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale are Sept. 14-19, 2020.