Today, Ucross Foundation announces the biennial Wyoming gala in support of its acclaimed artist residency program, the Ucross Art Gallery, and the 20,000-acre ranch, on Thursday, September 24. The festivities will feature an awards ceremony honoring Naoma Tate of Cody, Wyoming, with Ucross’s Outstanding Patron of the Arts Award.      
 
The evening also will include a cocktail reception, a seasonal dinner, performances by artist-alumni, and a lively auction, all within a heated tent in Ucross’s historic Big Red Ranch Complex. The evening will conclude with the award ceremony honoring Tate for her lifelong commitment to supporting artists and the arts.
 
“Naoma inspires us all through her dedication to the arts in Wyoming and the West, as well as nationally and internationally,” said Caitlin Addlesperger, Ucross President and Executive Director. “We look forward to honoring Naoma and celebrating the creative spirit this fall. The Ucross Gala promises to be a magical evening.”

The Outstanding Patron of the Arts is Ucross’s prestigious award that recognizes individuals for their generosity, leadership, and unwavering commitment to the arts. Previous recipients include Governor Mark and First Lady Jennie Gordon, Mike and Francesca Hammer, and Jesse and Cathy Marion.
 
Tate serves on the Ucross Board of Trustees, as well as on the Board of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, the National Board of the Smithsonian, the Smithsonian Natural History Museum Gemology Board, Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, the National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA, and the Leakey Foundation. She serves on the board of the Berkeley Geochronology Center and the American Heritage Center at the University of Wyoming. In addition, she served on the Advisory Board for the University of Utah World Leaders Lecture Forum, and the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. She is a proud member of the Utah and Wyoming Westerners, the Utah Daughters of the Pioneers, Daughters of the American Revolution, and American Friends of the Louvre. Tate is an acknowledged silver historian and a certified gemologist. In 2009, she was awarded the Wyoming Governor’s Arts Award.
 
Earlier this year, Tate took the lead in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History’s celebration of the American bison. In March, three larger-than-life bronze bison statues undertook a weeklong, cross-country stampede from Colorado to the Smithsonian. A gift to the museum by Tate, the bronze bison now permanently flank the museum’s entrance on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
 
In addition to honoring Tate, the Ucross Gala will celebrate the Wyoming nonprofit organization’s mission and impact. Ucross is dedicated to fostering the creative spirit of working artists by providing uninterrupted time, studio space, living accommodations, staff support, and the experience of the majestic High Plains, while serving as a responsible steward of its historic 20,000-acre ranch in northern Wyoming. Since the residency program began in 1983, Ucross has provided residencies to more than 3,000 writers, visual artists, composers, choreographers, and interdisciplinary artists from across the world.
 
Further championing the work of artist-alumni, Ucross also provides world-class community programming through events, workshops, publications, and exhibitions in the Ucross Art Gallery.
 
All funds raised before and during the Ucross Gala will support residency time for 150-plus artists each year, continued investment in community engagement activities, and responsible stewardship of Ucross’s historic ranch. Each ticket and table will help Ucross remain a meaningful and relevant resource for artists, the community and the state of Wyoming.

Details for the Ucross Gala are available at ucross.org (here) or by calling 307-737-2291.

Today, Ucross Foundation, the acclaimed artist residency program, announces the addition of three new Trustees to its Board: Deborah Koehler of Houston, Texas; Marisa Silver of Los Angeles, California; and Craig Jarchow of Houston, Texas. In addition, longtime Trustee S. James Nelson of Big Horn, Wyoming, has been named Chairman Emeritus.
 
“We are thrilled to honor Jim’s 45 years with Ucross,” said Ucross Board Chair Jesse Marion. “His legacy of commitment to our nonprofit continues with these three new Trustees, who bring a strong blend of nonprofit experience, as well as a proven commitment to the arts.”
 
Driven by her devotion for dance, music, photography, and modern art, Koehler is a returning Trustee who has been involved with Ucross for over 20 years. While serving as Executive Assistant to Ucross Founder Raymond Plank during his Chairmanship of Apache Corporation, Koehler helped implement Plank’s ongoing philanthropic support of Ucross. As successor donor of the Plank Philanthropy Fund, she has initiated and implemented significant grants to numerous arts organizations and grants for scholarships, including support for residencies at Ucross with institutions including the Schools of Art, Music and Theater at Yale University, the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, the Creative Writing Program at the University of Houston, and the Houston Ballet, among others. She also initiated and funded the Koehler Performing Arts Center at Ucross, which contains the Lauren Anderson Dance Studio and serves as a studio space for performing artists-in-residence. While continuing to oversee the Plank Philanthropy Fund, Koehler recently established the Small Difference Foundation to further her philanthropic initiatives with a focus on motivating and rewarding young people who make an impact in their community and inspire others to do the same. She previously had a 20-year career in healthcare management. Koehler lives in Houston with her husband, Edward Koehler.
 
Silver first came to Ucross as an artist-in-residence in 2023. She is a bestselling author of the novels, At Last, The Mysteries, Little Nothing, Mary Coin, The God of War, No Direction Home and the short story collections Alone with You and Babe in Paradise. Her short fiction has won the O. Henry Prize, been anthologized in The Best American Short Stories and appeared in numerous journals and magazines including The New Yorker and The Atlantic. Silver has received several fellowships in addition to Ucross, including from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Cullman Center for Scholars, Writers at The New York Public Library, MacDowell, Yaddo, and The Dora Maar Foundation. 
 
Jarchow is President and CEO of TG Natural Resources (TNGR), one of the largest producers of natural gas in East Texas and North Louisiana. Prior to TNGR, Jarchow served as an investing partner in private equity at Pine Brook Road Partners and First Reserve. He started his career working in operational roles at Amoco and operational and management roles at Apache Corporation, which led him to Ucross over 20 years ago. Jarchow is President of the Board of Directors of the Alley Theatre in Houston. He holds a B.A. in Geological Sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara, an M.S. and Ph.D. in Geophysics from Stanford University, and an M.B.A. from MIT. He is also a Fellow of the Geological Society of America.
 
In addition to welcoming the three new Trustees, the Ucross Board named S. James Nelson Chairman Emeritus. Nelson was a founding member of the board and served as the Treasurer since the Foundation’s inception in 1981. Plank asked Nelson to take over as Chair in November 2013, when the founder elected to step aside from day-to-day activities. Nelson has a B.S. from Holy Cross College and an M.B.A. from Harvard University.
 
In addition to Silver, Jarchow and Koehler, the Ucross Board of Trustees now comprises Chair Jesse Marion of Spring, Texas; Vice President Susan Miller of Sheridan, Wyoming; Treasurer Roger Plank of Ucross, Wyoming, and Houston, Texas; Secretary Kim Cannon of Big Horn, Wyoming; Tracy Boyle of Sheridan, Wyoming; Armand Brachman of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Dick Davis of Sheridan Wyoming; David Leuschen of Roscoe, Montana; Christian Nelson of Fredricksburg, Texas; Anne Pendergast of Big Horn, Wyoming; Gerald Peters of Jackson, Wyoming, and Santa Fe, New Mexico; Scott Manning Stevens of Syracuse, New York; Naoma Tate of Cody, Wyoming; and Arin Waddell of Sheridan, Wyoming.
 
Learn more about our Trustees here. 

After nearly a year of major renovations, Ucross Foundation, the acclaimed artist residency program, will celebrate the reopening of the 144-year-old Big Red Ranch House with a public ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house on Tuesday, June 16, at 5 p.m. The evening includes the opening of the Big Red Showcase exhibition featuring Sheridan artist Arin Waddell, and a ticketed summer picnic with live music will follow.
 
“The Big Red Ranch House is the beating heart of Ucross,” said Caitlin Addlesperger, Ucross President and Executive Director. “As the home of staff offices, it’s the first stop for artists, locals, and tourists. We are deeply grateful to Armand and Mary Brachman for this generous gift, which saved this historic building and supported the sustainability of our nonprofit.”
 
BRIEF RANCH HOUSE HISTORY
 
The Big Red Ranch House, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1882 as the high-end headquarters for the Pratt & Ferris Cattle Company. Among the house’s many modern features was a bathroom with hot and cold running water. A copper-lined wooden tank in the attic furnished the water pressure. Throughout its history, the building served as a home for ranching families, a fourth-class post office, and an overnight stagecoach stop.
 
A century later, Ucross Founder Raymond Plank purchased the property and surrounding ranchland. The abandoned building had been taken by nature and wildlife, including beehives, bats, and even cattle. With support from early donors, Plank and his son Michael renovated the building in 1982.
 
By 1983, the Ranch House had become the headquarters for Ucross Foundation, which began its mission to support artists by providing time and studio space that same year.

Ucross, the acclaimed residency program, announces today the newest exhibition in the Ucross Art Gallery, In Company, will open with a public reception during Founder’s Day on Saturday, May 30, at 1 p.m.
 
In Company gathers 14 artists in a constellation of influence, exchange, and kinship. The Ucross Art Gallery team invited seven former artists-in-residence to showcase their work alongside an artist who has impacted their creative process. The resulting exhibition weaves together literature, music, and film among paintings, photographs, sculptures, and installations. By highlighting relationships that inform artistic practice and making visible the subtle influences that link makers and their creative work, these artist pairings encourage viewers to consider how meaning is shaped both individually and collaboratively.
 
“This exhibition highlights the reach of Ucross artists across the globe,” said Ucross Program Director and alumna Tawni Shuler, who co-curated the exhibition with Gallery Associate Lacasa Michelena and Gallery Advisor and alumna Brittney Denham-Whisonant. “The work is contemporary. The work highlights relationships, landscape, and some of the most poignant moments of being human. The work is so unexpected to find on a 20,000-acre cattle ranch in Wyoming. Expect to be blown away by the size, the scale, and the multiplicity.”
 
Featured Ucross Fellows include Lars Jan of Los Angeles, California; Tracy Linder of Molt, Montana; Katie Merz of Brooklyn, New York; Nathalie Miebach of Boston, Massachusetts; Kristen Schiele of New Paltz, New York; Tip Toland of Vaughn, Washington and Sarah Williams of Springfield, Missouri. Invited constellation artists include Richard Misrach of San Francisco, California; Deborah Butterfield of Bozeman, Montana; Charley Friedman of Lincoln, Nebraska; Steve Reich of New York, New York; Emily Noelle Lambert of Peterborough, New Hampshire; Richard Notkin of Vaughn, Washington; and Matt Bollinger of Ithaca, New York.
 
The public is invited to celebrate In Company and hear from the artists and curators during Ucross Founder’s Day on Saturday, May 30. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., visitors can explore open studios of the 10 current artists-in-residence, enjoy housemade pizza and treats from the Ucross Café pop-up food truck, and watch featured artist Katie Merz live painting the final installation of the exhibition on the Little Red Shed. Ucross Founder’s Day, including the reception, is free and open to the public, with required registration.
 
At 1 p.m., all will gather in the Ucross Art Gallery for the unveiling of In Company. The reception will include a curator-led panel featuring several of the featured artists.
 
In Company will be on view through December 19. The Ucross Art Gallery and Café, located at 30 Big Red Lane in Ucross, Wyoming, is open with free admission Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Get your free ticket to Founder's Day here. 

Learn more about In Company and other exhibitions here. 

Ucross Foundation, the acclaimed artist residency program in northern Wyoming, will host a farewell happy hour honoring Bim Eriksson of Stockholm, Sweden, an artist-in-residence at Ucross through the European Union Delegation to the United States, on Wednesday, May 27, from 4 to 6 p.m. at The Warehouse Gastropub in Sheridan.
 
A visual artist and storyteller from Stockholm, Eriksson has spent her residency connecting with the local community while developing new creative projects as part of the EU’s Transatlantic Rising Stars initiative, which fosters artistic exchange and collaboration between European and American artists.
 
Working across comics, drawing, and multidisciplinary storytelling, Eriksson’s practice explores emotional complexity, identity, power structures, and soft resistance, often balancing the playful with the unsettling. During her residency, she collaborated with Sheridan artist Polly Burge and Buffalo poet David Romtvedt, a Ucross alumnus. Eriksson also presented a community artist talk at Sheridan College on April 30.
 
Eriksson will have an open studio during Ucross Founder’s Day on May 30. She will then travel to Washington, D.C. following her residency at Ucross, where she, Burge, and Romtvedt will present their collaborative works at a special event hosted at the Hirshhorn Museum, presented by the European Union Delegation to the United States, in June.
 
“It has been a joy to see how Bim has connected with our neighboring communities in Sheridan and Buffalo, as well as her fellow artists-in-residence, over her eight-week residency,” said Caitlin Addlesperger, President and Executive Director of Ucross. “We invite you to come say hello to Bim, discover her artwork and enjoy a taste of Sweden.”
 
During the farewell happy hour, guests are invited to gather on The Warehouse Gastropub patio for a preview of Eriksson’s projects with Burge and Romtvedt, as well as her solo work. The Warehouse Gastropub will provide a smorgasbord of Swedish-inspired bites curated by Head Chef Jeff Armstrong and Owner Christer Johansson, originally of Trollhättan, Sweden. The evening will feature an artist talk by Eriksson, as she concludes her time in Wyoming.
 
“As someone who grew up in Sweden, it is meaningful to help welcome a Swedish artist to Sheridan and share a small taste of Swedish culture with our community,” said Christer Johansson. “We are honored to partner with Ucross for this event and to help create a warm, memorable farewell for Bim.”
 
The event is free and open to the public, with required reservation at ucross.org. Guests who make suggested donations will enjoy a wristband guaranteeing access to the food and a traditional Swedish drink (alcoholic and nonalcoholic options are available). Reserved VIP seating options are also available.
 
Reserve your spot here. 

Beginning this summer, Ucross Foundation, the acclaimed artist residency in northern Wyoming, invites the community to its 20,000-acre ranch with two movement series: Yoga in The Park at Ucross and guided Confluences sound hikes.
 
“We are thrilled to welcome the community to our ranch for these immersive experiences,” said Ucross President and Executive Director Caitlin Addlesperger. “We hope visitors will find the same peace and inspiration as our artists-in-residence through yoga and sound art throughout our beautiful landscape.”
 
Ucross will host the inaugural Yoga in The Park at Ucross series on Saturday, June 6; Saturday, July 11; and Saturday, August 22. Starting at 10 a.m., instructor Tressa Lawrence will lead an hour-long yoga class for all levels. Registration is required at ucross.org. In addition to the class, the $10 entrance fee will include a free beverage at the Ucross Café and entry into a raffle for a Ucross tote.
 
Returning to Ucross for the second summer, the guided Confluences sound hikes are centered around the sound installation, created by Ucross Fellows Teri Rueb and Laurids Sonne, available via a free downloadable app (iOS and Android) that visitors can run on their mobile phones while walking the land. Voices of the Ucross community, former artist residents, local residents of Clear Creek Valley, and field recordings taken in different seasons play as you travel through the landscape. 
 
The guided sound hikes will take place at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 19; Tuesday, June 23; Tuesday, July 21; Tuesday, August 18; Tuesday, September 15; and Tuesday, October 13. Attendees will meet at the Ucross Art Gallery for an introduction and orientation before caravanning to the trail. Participants should prepare for an intermediate hike up and down hills on the ranch, with longer grass on uneven terrain. The sound hikes are free and open to the public with advance registration required.
 
Get your tickets for Yoga at The Park at Ucross here. 

Register for the guided Confluences sound hikes here. 

The Bighorn Audubon Society and Ucross, the acclaimed artist residency program in northern Wyoming, invite the public to a free, guided bird walk on Saturday, May 2, at 10 a.m., with special guests Bill Yellowtail and Birdie Real Bird. The event offers a special opportunity to witness spring migration and explore the diverse ecosystems of the Ucross Ranch, one of Wyoming’s officially designated Important Bird Areas (IBA).
 
Participants will meet at the Ucross Art Gallery, where Real Bird will begin by sharing stories on the Apsáalooke nation’s deep connection with birds. Bighorn Audubon Society will then guide the walk to the ponds — a scenic, 1.5-mile loop through diverse habitats that support a rich variety of birdlife. Yellowtail, a former member of the Montana Senate and former Regional Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, will share stories along the way. The walk will last approximately an hour and a half. Guests are encouraged to bring binoculars, wear sturdy walking shoes, and dress for the weather.

Spring is an especially active time for birdlife in northeastern Wyoming, according to JoAnne Puckett with the Bighorn Audubon Society. Likely sightings include Mountain Bluebirds, Western Meadowlarks, Sandhill Cranes, Great Blue Herons, Bald Eagles, Ferruginous Hawks, Swainson’s Hawks, Wild Turkeys, Long-billed Curlews, and Greater Sage-Grouse.
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“We’re delighted to welcome the public to this inspiring corner of the High Plains and to share the ecological importance of the Ucross landscape,” said Caitlin Addlesperger, President and Executive Director of Ucross. “It’s a chance to connect with nature and celebrate the wildlife that makes our artist residency program’s location so special.”

The Ucross Ranch received its Important Bird Area designation in 2015 through the leadership of Dr. Jackie Canterbury, former president of the Bighorn Audubon Society. Located on the western edge of the Powder River Basin, the ranch offers diverse habitats — including riparian corridors, wetlands, native grasslands, and sagebrush scrublands — that support species of conservation concern. The designation reflects Ucross’s long-standing commitment to land stewardship, strengthened by habitat improvements from the Apache Foundation, environmental research by Yale University, and creative works by Ucross artists-in-residence that celebrate the region’s birdlife.

The Bighorn Audubon Society, a regional chapter of the National Audubon Society, has served northeastern Wyoming since 1970. Through educational programs, field trips, conservation advocacy, and community engagement, the organization works to protect birds and their habitats while promoting a healthy natural world for future generations.

The bird walk is free and open to all ages. To register, click here. 

Ucross will host its fifth annual Founder’s Day celebration on Saturday, May 30, starting at 11 a.m. The community is invited to explore the artist residency grounds on Ucross’s 20,000-acre ranch, visit the artists in their studios, enjoy a picnic on the lawn, and discover the new exhibition in the Ucross Art Gallery.
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“Founder’s Day is one of the best ways to get to know Ucross,” said Caitlin Addlesperger, Ucross President and Executive Director. “Our artist residency program is at the core of our mission. And for one day, you can meet all of our artists-in-residence, walk on the trails between the studios with views of our vast ranch, enjoy our culinary team’s incredible food, and end the afternoon immersed in the artwork that comes of uninterrupted time and space.”

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., visitors may tour the studios of Ucross’s current artists-in-residence, meet the artists, and view works in progress. The community will hear how being at Ucross has impacted their creative process.
​
Participating current artists-in-residence will include writer Jessie Allen of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; mixed-media artist Rachel Breen of Minneapolis, Minnesota; poet Beth Alison Jones of Augusta, Maine; composer Arthur Gottschalk of Houston, Texas; poet Ed Bok Lee of St. Paul, Minnesota; writer Kartika Budhwar of Houston, Texas; comic book artist Bim Eriksson of Stockholm, Sweden; composer Victor Marquez-Barrios of Kirksville, Missouri; the recipient of the Ucross Fellowship for Native American Performers, Cannupa Hanska Luger (Mandan/Hidatsa/Arikara/Lakota) of Glorieta, New Mexico; and the recipient of the Ucross Fellowship for Native American Visual Artists, ishkwaazhe Shane McSauby (Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians) of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Ucross alumna Katie Merz of Brooklyn, New York, will finish live painting the Ucross Shed during the festivities as the final installation for the latest exhibition in the Ucross Art Gallery: In Company: A Ucross Constellation.
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Then, at 1 p.m., the Ucross Art Gallery will draw back the curtains and unveil the exhibition. Curated by Ucross, In Company explores how artists, composers, and writers build upon inspiration from the creative works of their peers — past and present — to create a global creative community. The exhibition features 14 artists: seven Ucross artist-alumni who each nominated an artist whose work will be exhibited alongside their own. In Company will invite the viewer into the creative process, shining a light on how ideas can be expanded upon in many ways and become uniquely inspired works of art.

Throughout the event, the pop-up Ucross Café food truck will offer housemade pizza, popsicles, and beverages for purchase throughout the day. Guests are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket.

Ucross Founder’s Day recognizes the 104th anniversary of the late Ucross founder, Raymond Plank. Born on May 29, 1922, Plank grew up on his family farm in Minnesota. He entered Yale University in September 1940 but left just three months later, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, to enlist in the U.S. Army Air Corps Reserves. During World War II, he piloted B-24 bombers, completed 40 combat missions, and earned numerous commendations. After the war, Plank went on to graduate from Yale; form an accounting and tax service; and eventually co-found and become chairman and CEO of Apache Corporation, which was based in Minneapolis and is now based in Houston, Texas. Plank passed away in November 2018 at age 96.

Plank founded Ucross Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, in 1981, and the residency program welcomed its first artists in 1983. Over the next four decades, the program has developed into one of the most respected artist communities in the nation. More than 3,000 visual artists, writers, choreographers, and composers have been to Ucross, benefiting from its uninterrupted time, studio space, living accommodations, and meals by a professional chef, as well as the experience of the majestic High Plains. Many alumni have gone on to earn national recognition, including Pulitzer Prizes, MacArthur “Genius” Fellowships, National Book Awards, Tony Awards, Academy Awards, and more.

Reserve your free tickets to Founder's Day here. 

Ucross, the acclaimed residency program, invites the community to two free events for its latest exhibition, Resilience, on Friday, April 17: an 11 a.m. artist talk at Sheridan College and a 6 p.m. public reception in the Ucross Art Gallery, including a live performance.
 
The exhibition, curated by Ucross Fellow Marwin Begaye (Navajo) of Norman, Oklahoma, explores the resiliency of Indigenous artists across generations. Resilience features artwork by sculptor Gina Herrera (Tesuque Pueblo) of Bakersfield, California; writer Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) of Cherokee, North Carolina; mixed-media artist Wade Patton (Oglala Lakota)​ of Rapid City, South Dakota; and visual and performance artist Sarah Ortegon HighWalking (Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho) of Fort Washakie, Wyoming.
 
On April 17, the community will have the opportunity to dive deeper into Resilience by attending a curator and artist talk at 11 a.m. at Kinnison Hall at Sheridan College. The featured artists will discuss their heritage, creative process, and more.
 
Later, Ucross will host a reception at the Ucross Art Gallery at 6 p.m. This event includes a curator's talk, the opportunity to meet the featured artists, gallery tours, complimentary refreshments made by the Ucross culinary team, and a special performance.
 
A collaborative performance featuring artwork by Begaye will take place during the reception in the heart of the gallery. This live performance will meld together traditional dance, printmaking, spoken poetry, and installation by creating a large-scale print using the pressure of Ortegon HighWalking’s dance atop multiple woodcut blocks to transfer ink onto paper while Saunooke Clapsaddle reads a piece of her poetry aloud.
 
All artists featured in this exhibition are recipients of the 2025 Ucross Fellowship for Native American Artists. Established in 2018, this fellowship supports contemporary Indigenous visual artists, writers, and performers. The fellowship offers a four-week residency among the majestic High Plains of Wyoming and includes private studio space, living accommodations, staff support, meals prepared by a professional chef, a stipend, the opportunity to present work publicly, and an award of $2,000. With early support from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the fellowship began by supporting visual artists, then expanded over the years to include writers and performers, with Ortegon HighWalking as the inaugural awarded performance artist.
 
Resilience will be on view through May 15. The Ucross Art Gallery and Café, located at 30 Big Red Lane in Ucross, Wyoming, is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with free admission.
 
RSVP for the curator and artist talk here. 

RSVP for the gallery reception here. 

Ucross, the nationally acclaimed artist residency program, announced that Travis Ivey of Mesa, Arizona, is the featured artist in the latest installment of the Big Red Showcase. Ivey’s work will be on view at the Ucross Art Gallery through September 1. Ucross invites the community to celebrate the opening and meet the artist during the public reception on Friday, March 20, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
 
The Big Red Showcase is a rotating exhibition series that champions former Ucross artists-in-residence by offering an intimate platform for an individual’s collectible work, providing direct support to the artists, and creating moments of connection between creator and viewer.
 
“We are honored to present the work of Travis Ivey in the second installment of the Big Red Showcase,” said Ucross President and Executive Director Caitlin Addlesperger. “Through his landscape paintings, Travis captures the contemporary American West in scenes that will resonate across the region, from familiar scenes in northern Wyoming to southern Arizona.”
 
Originally from Laramie, Ivey’s landscape paintings often include candid imagery of humanity’s impact on the landscape. His work moves between traditional landscapes of the American West and intuitive material-driven abstraction.
 
“My reality growing up in Wyoming wasn’t all cowboys and bugling elk,” said Ivey. “I saw energy corridors, coal trains, and drilling-rigs against a backdrop of wild pastoral beauty. For me, it was more authentic and interesting to include those realities rather than pretend they didn’t exist.”
 
A self-described polymath, Ivey works across a wide range of styles and media. He has painted representationally for more than 20 years, while maintaining a rigorous studio practice in abstract and non-objective mixed-media.
 
Ivey earned his Master of Fine Arts from Arizona State University. His artwork is featured in numerous private collections, including the University of Wyoming; MUFG Bank in Tempe, Arizona; Arizona State University Graduate College; and the Wyoming State Museum.
 
See Ivey’s work throughout the gallery’s Big Red Barn through September 1. The Ucross Art Gallery and Café, located at 30 Big Red Lane in Ucross, Wyoming, is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with free admission.
 
On Friday, March 20, the public is invited to join Ucross for a free public reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. This event will include an artist talk by Ivey and complimentary refreshments from Ucross Chef Jackie Vitale.
 
Explore Travis's work in Big Red Showcase here.

​RSVP for the March 20 reception here.