Celebrating Excellence on the Plains: APA Signature Show Winners Announced

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The American Plains Artists have unveiled the award winners of their 2025 Signature Art Show, a vibrant gathering of vision and craftsmanship that opened Saturday, July 5th and ran through July 26th at the Prairie Arts Center, 416 N. Jeffers Street in North Platte, Nebraska.

 

  • Best of Show was awarded to “Deserted”, a contemplative oil painting by Susan Temple Neumann of Rowlett, TX, capturing a quiet moment with masterful restraint.đź“š Publisher’s Awards of Excellence reflected a rich diversity of form and expression:
    • Sponsored by Art of the West: “Riding the River Bottom”, an evocative acrylic by Dave Dorsey of Valentine, NE.
    • Sponsored by Western Art & Architecture: “The Quiet Ones”, a bronze vessel by Jammey Huggins of Seminole, TX—earthy, reflective, and sculpturally poetic.
    • Sponsored by Western Art Collector: “Sweet Days of Summer”, a beautifully colored pencil piece of Sun Flowers brimming with nostalgia, created by Eileen Nistler of Upton, WY.

    🌾 Regional and member-selected honors added to the celebration:

    • North Platte Award: “Just a Prickly Pear”, a wonderful oil by Lloyd Voges of Clifton, TX.
    • Arrowhead Award (Hosting Facility’s Choice): “Cool Water”, a beautiful graphite drawing by Lori Jones of Lake City, KS.
    • Plainsman Award (People’s Choice): “Texas Hay Fields”, an oil painting warm with summer light, by Charlie Bullock of Athens, TX.
    • Golden Spur Award (APA Signature Members’ Choice): “Sweet Music”, a second honor for Dave Dorsey, whose work resonated deeply with fellow artists.

Neumann, Susan Temple Deserted 18x24 Oil $3400 | Best of Show
Susan Temple Neumann “Deserted” 18×24 Oil $3400 | Best of Show

From graphite to bronze, oil to colored pencil, each work invites us to pause, connect, and reflect on the enduring spirit of the American Plains. We congratulate the winners and all who participated in this remarkable exhibition.

You can view the 2025 award winners and the rest of the show here.

And for artists inspired by these voices—your moment may be next.
Call for Entries for APA’s 2025 National Juried Show is now open!
Entries are being accepted through August 23rd for our upcoming exhibition at the Pearce Museum at Navarro College in Corsicana, TX, on view October 16, 2025 – January 5, 2026.
The show opens with a reception on October 16th, and we welcome submissions from across the country that reflect the lands, lives, and legacy of the Plains.

To learn more or submit your work, visit the Juried Show Entry under Shows and Events here on our website.

 

 

 

 

American Plains Artists 2023 Signature Show

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American Plains Artists 2023 Signature Show

The American Plains Artists (APA) Signature Show opened March 17 and will continue through April 29, 2023 at the Petrified Wood & Art Gallery in Ogallala, Nebraska.

Realistic and representational artworks of the American Great Plains including the, landscape, people, and the life of the Plains–were exhibited by twenty-seven APA Signature members from across the U.S.A.  Nationally recognized and highly respected Cowboy Artists of America member Brandon Bailey was our Awards Juror.

 

Best of Show — “Little Winner” by Cliff Barnes
Western Art Collector Publisher’s/Artist Focus Award  —  “Banjo” by Jean G. Green
Art of the West Publisher’s Award  — “Storm Coming” by Alice Leese
Ogallala Award  —  “A Good Day for a Hanging” by Gary Ward
Arrowhead Award  — “I See You” by Tom Samson
Plainsman and Golden Spur Awards to be Announced.

Enjoy our little video! To see our full show click here.

After starting the video you can right click and save it to your computer for better playback. Feel free to share it!

Some imagery and music provided by Adobe Stock.

Here are some additional views from the reception at the Petrified Wood & Art Gallery

 

American Plains Artists 2021 Juried Show Call for Artists

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Get your entries ready!

The American Plains Artists is now gearing up for their 2021 National Juried Show to be held at the CFD Old West Museum in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Artists may begin submitting their digital entries between July18- Sept. 11, 2021 for consideration. The APA is also happy to have western sculptor Jeff Wolf, as awards juror.
For more info see the following link.

APA 2021 Signature Show Awards

Posted on by American Plains Art

APA 2021 Signature Show

Awards

The American Plains Artists (APA) Signature Show opened at 2 PM, Monday, March 15, 2021, at the Petrified Wood & Art Gallery in Ogallala, NE, to a large, steady crowd despite two major highways being closed from the middle of Nebraska all the way to Utah due to bad winter snowstorms in western Nebraska and Wyoming. 

Realistic and representational artworks of the American Great Plains–the wildlife, landscape, people, and the life of the Plains–were exhibited by twenty-two APA Signature members from across the U.S.A.  Nationally recognized and highly respected Awards Juror Don Dernovich awarded the following:

 

  •   BEST OF SHOW:   “Comfort Mood”, an oil painting by Sherry Blanchard Stuart of Scottsdale, AZ

THREE PUBLISHER AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

  1. “Mama’s Boy”, an oil painting by Judy Osburn of Norman, OK–Quarter-page ad given by Art of the West, Andrew Kane, Owner/Publisher; 
  2. “Silence Speaks” a bronze sculpture by Mary Michael, of Belt, MT– One month digital ad given by Fine Art Connoisseur, B. Eric Rhoads, Publisher; 
  3. “Collectibles”, an oil painting by Cheryl Roush of Midland, TX–Half-page ad given by Western Art & Architecture, Tim Newton, Publisher.
Stuart, Sherry Blanchard Comfort Mood 16x26 Oil on linen $2400
Sherry Blanchard Stuart “Best of Show” Comfort Mood 16×26 Oil on linen $2400

 

 

Other awards included the Arrowhead Award chosen by the Petrified Wood & Art Gallery–“General’s Game”, a colored pencil artwork by Eileen Nistler of Upton, WY, and the Golden Spur award chosen by the APA Signature Members–“Grand Autumn Day”, an acrylic by J. I. McElroy of Gurley, NE.  A special “Ogallala” Award given by the APA was won by “Prairie Wind”, an oil painting by Barbara Summers Edwards of Smithfield, UT.  This award received the autographed and remarqued book Ogallala, a Century on the Trail by Elaine Nielsen whose husband and daughter chose the award-winning artwork.

The APA Signature show continues through May 22, 2021.  The public is invited to see this “Art of the Plains” show and is also invited to attend the ending reception on May 22nd from 2-6 PM.  The Petrified Wood & Art Gallery is located at 418 East 1st Street, Ogallala, NE, and is open 8 AM-4 PM MDT Monday-Saturday.  If attending the show in person is not an option, the public is encouraged to view the APA exhibit following the link below.  For more information call the gallery at 308.284.9996.

Click here to view our award winning art work and show!

2019 APA 34th ANNUAL JURIED EXHIBIT & SALE REPORT

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Mary Lou Pape American Plains Artists Plainsmen award winner and best plains wildlife award 3 wolves in snow titled Greetings

2019 APA 34th ANNUAL JURIED EXHIBIT & SALE REPORT

The APA is very pleased to have had a really good show at a great place—The Pearce Museum at Navarro College in Corsicana, TX, October 10, 2019-January 4, 2020. We have received very enthusiastic and positive reviews from many sources about the show as well as the Pearce Museum and the great people who work there. It was wonderful working with such a fine group of people and an outstanding museum. A big thank you goes out to them all!

The winner of the Plainsman (People’s Choice) Award was “Greetings”, an oil painting of three wolves painted by Mary Lou Pape of Monument, CO. Congratulations, Ms. Pape!

 

Posted on by American Plains Art

APA Show opening

Pearce Museum Of Navarro College

The American Plains Artists (APA) 34th Annual Juried Exhibit & Sale will be at the Pearce Museum of Navarro College – Corsicana, TX – October 10, 2019 through January 4, 2020 Opening Reception, October 10, 2019, 5:30-9pm

The public is invited to attend this celebration of “Art of the Plains.” It will feature 110 artworks in traditional media including sculpture, that depict the landscape, wildlife, people and way of life on the American Great Plains region in historical or modern time themes. 

This showcase features many artworks by nationally recognized award winning artists from across the U.S.A. and beyond.

Please join us in Corsicana! or view our show here!

 

American Plains Artists News July 2019

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The APA Signature Show, hosted by the Museum of Western Art in Kerrville, TX, opened to a continuously large crowd.  After years of emailing Signature Members back and forth it was great for the Signature Members to finally meet several of the others in person at the opening reception.

sunset oil painting by Barron Postmus American Plains Artists
“Renewal” by Barron Postmus

The show was very well received by the MoWA as well as the public, which made us all very happy!  Winning the Arrowhead (Hosting Facility’s Choice) Award AND the Plainsman (People’s Choice) Award was “Renewal” by Barron Postmus. 

Ready for Battle oil painting by Glen Edwards
Ready for Battle by Glen Edwards

Winning the Golden Spur (Artists’ Choice) Award was “Ready for Battle” by Glen Edwards. Congratulations to these two artists as well as the participating Signature Members in this show! It was a high quality and successful show thanks to all of them! 

 

 

If you were not able to see the show in Kerrville, TX, please take a look at it on the APA website:  www.americanplainsartists.com

 

The prospectus for the 2019 APA 34th Annual Juried Exhibit & Sale was put on the APA website May1st and we have already been receiving entries!  The entry due date is August 24, 2019 for sending in your jpgs, entry form, and membership & entry fees.  On the APA website click on “Shows and Events” and then “Juried Show Entry”. That will get you to the page where you can download and print the prospectus.  It is also the page where you can select the tabs to fill out your entry form and to pay your fees.  If you have any questions, please contact judy@americanplainsartists.com.

 We are looking forward to seeing everyone’s jpgs for jurying and to a fantastic show at the Pearce Museum at Navarro College in Corsicana, TX.  The Pearce Museum staff is very much looking forward to our show, too!  So, paint and sculpt great artworks and get the jpgs of them sent for jurying to the four people listed on the prospectus!  

If you are not an artist but just love great art, be sure to mark your calendar for the Opening Reception from 5:30-9 PM, October 10, 2019, at the Pearce Museum for the APA 34th Annual Juried Exhibit & Sale!  Hope to meet you there!

Judy McElroy

APA President & Show Chairlady

American Plains Artists Signature Show at the Museum of Western Art 2019

American Plains Artists 2019 Signature Show

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The American Plains Artists 2019 Signature Member Show is almost here.

We thought we’d share a digital version of our invitation with you.

Hope to see you at the show!

  

You are cordially invited to attend the American Plains Artists 

Signature Show at the Museum of Western Art in Kerrville, TX, 

May 4-June 29, 2019, and the Opening Reception May 4th, 2-4 PM.  

We look forward to meeting you there!  

 

American Plains Artists 2018 Annual Juried Show Event Photos

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APA 2018 jURIED sHOW eVENT phOTOS

Our 2018 Show was a beautiful event, but it was also a lot of fun. We just had to share a few of our event photos with you! 

 

 

 

American Plains Artists Annual Juried Show Opening

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APA Show opening

Fort  Concho, San Angelo, TX  June 28, 2018

The American Plains Artists (APA) 33rd Annual Juried Exhibit & Sale will be at the Quartermaster Building at Fort Concho in San Angelo, TX,  June 28-August 5, 2018, with the Opening Reception on Thursday, June 28th, 5:30-7:30 PM.

The public is invited to attend this celebration of “Art of the Plains.” It will feature 112 artworks in traditional media including sculpture, that depict the landscape, wildlife, people and way of life on the American Great Plains region in historical or modern time themes. 

This showcase features many artworks by nationally recognized award winning artists from across the U.S.A. and beyond.

Please join us at Fort Concho or view our show here!