Spotlight shines on Western art and Hoosier hospitality in Indianapolis at 19th annual sale
Brett Allen Johnson
Desert Transom, 2024
Oil, 12 x 12 inches
Monday, July 22, 2024
INDIANAPOLIS — Top artists and avid collectors of Western American art will once again converge on Indianapolis for the much anticipated 19th annual Eiteljorg Museum Quest for the West® Art Show and Sale, Sept. 6 and 7. Quest for the West® attracts many of the country’s very best artists in the Western genre, the biggest fans of Western American art, as well as contemporary art enthusiasts.
One of the most prestigious Western art shows in the nation, Quest for the West® brings artists and collectors together for two fixed-price, luck-of-the-draw sales and other exciting activities during a special opening weekend for pre-registered guests.
Dean Mitchell
Below the Mountain, 2024
Acrylic
21 x 38 inches
“As one of the Eiteljorg’s iconic events each year, Quest for the West® has played an integral role in increasing awareness of the Western American art genre within the overall art community,” Eiteljorg President and CEO Kathryn Haigh said. “Quest for the West represents exceptional art, artists and Hoosier hospitality. It also has been vital to raising the Eiteljorg’s profile nationally, building lasting relationships between artists and collectors, as well as growing the Eiteljorg’s collection.”
Now in its 19th year, Quest for the West® is well known for its fun, intimate and welcoming atmosphere, allowing artists to reconnect with longtime collectors and meet new ones. Guests engage with the artists in an intimate setting and marvel at the diverse scope of elegant, world-class art. Since its inception in 2006, Quest has generated more than $18.5 million in art sales, with artists receiving nearly $14 million, and net proceeds supporting the Eiteljorg Museum.
William Haskell
Searching for Warmth, 2024
Acrylic on panel
16 x 20 inches
“What’s truly special is Quest for the West® brings together friends, collectors and artists alike from all over the country who are passionate about Western art. I am grateful to the Western Art Society, artists, patrons, sponsors and the hard-working museum employees and volunteers who make this unique event so memorable,” Haigh said.
After the sale weekend concludes, the Quest show will open to the public on Sunday, September 8, where all the Quest artworks will be on view through Sunday, Oct. 6. Any unsold art will remain for sale through the run of the exhibition. Collectors and museum guests will enjoy the beautiful, vibrant gallery of lifelike landscapes, stunning still-lifes and portraits, sculpted bronzes and other works.
Complete information about Quest for the West®, including participating artists, an early look at the art, opening weekend registration or absentee buyer information, visit quest.eiteljorg.org or contact Kay Hinds, development coordinator, at khinds@eiteljorg.com or 317.275.1341. Registration closes Friday, Sept 1.
Pati Stajcar
Aesop’s Fable, 2023
Bronze on stone
21 x 25 x 16 inches
Highlights of this year’s Quest for the West® opening weekend:
Art and Artists
During Quest weekend, nearly 50 artists will show and sell newly created works. This year, Quest welcomes eight artists who either are newcomers or were not in last year’s show: Brandon Bailey, Eric Bowman, S.M. Chavez, David Griffin, Terry Cooke Hall, Brett Allen Johnson, Stephanie Revennaugh and Pati Stajcar. Familiar artists return, such as Robert Griffing, Mark Kelso, Krystii Melaine, Dean Mitchell, P.A. Nisbet, Heide Presse and Dave Santillanes, among others. View the online Quest gallery.
Special exhibition by Quest artist Krystii Melaine
Opening weekend guests will enjoy a Friday reception and special exhibition, Beyond Boundaries, by longtime Quest for the West® artist Krystii Melaine, who was honored as the 2023 Quest Artist of Distinction.
Miniature Art Sale
The sale weekend kicks off Friday, Sept. 6 with a miniature art sale and reception. Many Quest artists create smaller works appealing both to first-time and experienced collectors who seek smaller pieces at lower price points. Buyers can take miniature art purchases home that evening.
Main Art Sale
On Saturday, Sept. 7, attendees can participate in a fixed-price, luck-of-the-draw sale. Absentee bids also are accepted. Quest is not an auction; instead, a bidder whose name is drawn gets the first right to purchase a particular work of art. If the bidder passes, the next person whose ballot is drawn has the opportunity to buy it. The bidding period is filled with excitement for bidders and artists alike.
Brad Teare
Autumn Serenity, 2024
Oil, 48 x 48 inches
Awards
Artists compete for special awards presented during a Saturday, Sept. 7 awards banquet following the main art sale. The acclaimed Harrison Eiteljorg Purchase Award goes to a work that The Western Art Society purchases to add to the museum’s permanent collection.
Alfred Jacob Miller: Revisiting the Rendezvous in Scotland and Today
Running concurrently with Quest for the West® is a an exhibition co-sponsored by the Buffalo Bill Center for the West and the Eiteljorg Museum, Alfred Jacob Miller: Revisiting the Rendezvous in Scotland and Today. This exhibit brings together rare paintings and drawings of the 1837 Rocky Mountain Rendezvous, based on the first-hand experiences of American artist Alfred Jacob Miller. See a group of major paintings that Miller painted for his Scottish patron, William Drummond Stewart, that have been reunited for the first time in more than 100 years. The exhibition sheds new light on Miller’s artwork, inspired by his experiences in the American West in 1837 and Scotland from 1840 to 1842. Quest weekend guests will enjoy special programming tied to the Miller exhibition.
Quest for the West® is presented by The Western Art Society and Avis Foundation, Inc.
Tim Cherry
Simply Swan, 2023
Mirror polished stainless steel
13 x 17 x 4 inches, Edition of 8
About the Eiteljorg
For 35 years, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art has been an integral part of the cultural fabric of Indianapolis and scenic White River State Park. The Eiteljorg Museum explores the intersection of the arts, histories and cultures of the past and present by sharing the diverse stories of the American West and the Indigenous Peoples of North America. Located on the Central Canal at 500 West Washington St., the Eiteljorg is a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
Media Contacts
Bryan Corbin
Public Relations Manager
317.275.1315
bcorbin@eiteljorg.com
Bert Beiswanger
Director of Marketing and Communications
317.275.1317
bbeiswanger@eiteljorg.com
Brooke Sullivan
Digital Marketing Manager
317.275.1388
bsullivan@eiteljorg.com
Dave Santillanes
The Cache La Poudre River, 2024
Oil, 24 x 44 inches
Editor’s Note: Here is recent media coverage of the 19th annual Eiteljorg Quest for the West® Art Show and Sale:
Western Art Collector magazine, September 2024
Fine Art Connoisseur magazine, September 2024
Southwest Art magazine, July 16, 2024