The Katherine and J. Robert Wilson Art Gallery

The Katherine and J. Robert Wilson Art Gallery is dedicated to celebrating the living culture of the American West. Showcasing the National Western’s Permanent Collection alongside contemporary works from acclaimed artists, the gallery serves as a vibrant space where tradition meets modern expression, honoring the stories, landscapes, and people that continue to define the frontier spirit.

The Gallery:

Located on the first floor of The Legacy at the National Western Center, the Katherine and J. Robert Wilson Art Gallery will, for the first time, make the entire National Western Permanent Collection available to the public year-round. Spanning more than 2,593 square feet, the gallery also provides professional workspace for curators and staff, ensuring the collection’s preservation and growth.

The Wilson Art Gallery provides a space to ensure ongoing, permanent access to works by leading artists such as Barbara Van Cleve, Steve Kestrel, Bill Anton, and Sophy Brown.

Since 1994, the National Western has acquired 31 significant works of contemporary Western art, each selected from the Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale’s featured artists. The collection is a living testament to the region’s artistry and philanthropy.

This remarkable addition is made possible by the generosity of Bob and Kitty Wilson, whose passion for both community and culture has given Denver (and the entire West) a lasting home for the art that defines our shared heritage. Proceeds from the exhibit support the National Western Scholarship Trust, which funds over 120 students annually in agriculture, veterinary science, and medicine.

Opening Exhibition

The opening exhibition is called Along the Trail, Selections from Colorado Museums and Private Collections. It will feature over 30 paintings from The Koshare Indian Museum in La Junta, The A.R. Mitchell Museum in Trinidad, and paintings from several Colorado private collections.

The exhibition will highlight paintings from Charles Partridge Adams, Frank Mechau, Arthur Mitchell, Larry Heller, Joseph Henry Sharp, Oscar Berninghaus, Edgar Payne, E. Martin Hennings, E. Irving Couse, along several other artists. The paintings show the history of artists working in Colorado, along with the Taos Society of Artists and the story of their relationship with The Koshare Indian Museum. The paintings were all completed between the mid-1800’s through 1970’s. 

Learn more about purchasing western art at coorswesternart.com.