National Western Permanent Collection

The National Western Permanent Collection is a chronological narrative of the West, built one masterpiece at a time. Since 1993, the Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale has selected a single work from each year’s Featured Artist to join this enduring archive. The collection has grown into a comprehensive survey of the modern West, spanning photography, sculpture, and painting.

This collection is housed in the Katherine and J. Robert Wilson Art Gallery within The Legacy, National Western’s headquarters. Situated on the historic site of the Denver stockyards and directly across from the original Livestock Exchange building, the gallery bridges our storied past and our vision for the future.

Treasures From Our Years

The National Western Permanent Collection is not merely an archive; it is a carefully curated record of excellence in the Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale. The process of adding a new work to the collection is a collaborative and highly selective tradition:

• The Featured Artist: Each year, the Coors Western Art staff and advisory committee identify a single artist whose work defines the contemporary spirit of the West.
• The Selection: This artist is invited to present three significant works to the committee, specifically chosen to represent their unique style and mastery.
• The Final Curation: From these three pieces, the committee selects one singular work to join the Permanent Collection. This ensures that every entry is not only a masterpiece in its own right but also a vital piece of the broader narrative of Western art history.