As it closes out 2023 and prepares for the future, the Briscoe Western Art Museum has an exciting lineup of events over the next few months. The marquee event is the annual Night of Artists exhibition and sale in March 2024, which transforms the museum into a vibrant showcase of contemporary Western art and culture.

Marking the Briscoe's 10th anniversary as a public institution, the Night of Artists brings together more than 280 new works by more than 85 artists. Starting with an Annual Briscoe Bison Society Collectors Summit and opening weekend dinner, the museum becomes a stage filled with the talent, passion, and vision of today's leading Western artists.

From paintings and sculpture to mixed media, the diversity of contemporary Western art will be on full display — non-collectors may view this as a good opportunity to check out new art before it disappears again into private collections.

Collectors will have a chance to participate in an auction (with estimated prices as low as a few thousand dollars and up to $50,000) and a popular "Luck of the Draw Sale" that makes things a little more accessible with fixed prices. The 2023 gallery featured prices as low as $650, and it appears that many pieces did not sell — so competition may not always be fierce.

What visitors will see
The event catalog features a dynamic range of contemporary visions of the American West. Viewers can expect to see works from artists like Teal Blake, who leverages his knowledge of ranching and cowboy culture to create intimate paintings of cowboys and ranch life.

Visitors will also find Gladys Roldan-de-Moras' passionate images of Spanish culture, Liang Yong's historically accurate Native American portraits, and Kevin Red Star's modern interpretations of heritage and identity on display.

Beyond appreciating the artworks, Night of Artists offers a feast for the senses. The opening weekend includes an elegant preview dinner and live auction, followed by Saturday's grand exhibition opening reception. For Western art enthusiasts, collectors, and the culturally curious, the Night of Artists is a premier destination event.

"Night of Artists highlights the continued vibrancy and relevance of Western art," said Briscoe president and CEO Liz Jackson in a press release. "Thanks to Night of Artists, talented artists, and dedicated enthusiasts, the museum is one of the preeminent homes of Western art in the world."

Following the opening weekend on March 22 and 23, the Night of Artists public exhibition and sale runs March 24 through May 5, 2024. Right now, the museum is asking interested parties to save the date; Tickets are not yet available, but they are expected to sell out.

More opportunities to experience the Briscoe
You don't have to wait until next year for a taste of the Briscoe's offerings. The museum has a slate of exhibitions and programs lined up for the end of 2023.

• Now until January 22, 2024 — Photographer Anouk Masson Krantz's exhibition "American Cowboys" includes evocative images of real-life cowboys.
• November 30 — The Briscoe will screen the documentaryExposing Muybridge, about pioneering photographer Eadweard Muybridge.
• December 3 — Cowboy Santa visits the museum on a free-entry day filled with crafts and a scavenger hunt.