The collections at the museum offer a view of the American West from multiple cultures and time periods
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The museum has an extensive collection of Western genre paintings, sketches and illustrations
The museum's Western Art collection contains many cowboy and Western paintings by Arthur Mitchell, Harvey Dunn and Harold Von Schmidt as well as students of Arthur Mitchell. The main subject of many of the paintings is the cowboy but pioneers, native Americans, scouts and other historical figures are represented. The collection also contains a large group of Mitchell's illustrations, sketches, studies and notes. Mitchell was an avid collector of reference material relating to his artistic subject matter and would often refer back to objects and clothing to create the most accurate details in his work.
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Mitchell's colorful landscape paintings
Mitchell was a fabulous landscape painter and enjoyed painting adobe houses, mountains, streams and desert scenes. Trips to New Mexico, Arizona and throughout Colorado provided him with unlimited vistas and views to immortalize on canvas. Mitchell's exhibit The Shadowed Mesa was curated by students of Western State Colorado University, (MGES) Masters in Gallery Management & Exhibits Specialization and exhibits a large portion of Mitchell's landscape paintings from his personal collection.
Mitchell was a fabulous landscape painter and enjoyed painting adobe houses, mountains, streams and desert scenes. Trips to New Mexico, Arizona and throughout Colorado provided him with unlimited vistas and views to immortalize on canvas. Mitchell's exhibit The Shadowed Mesa was curated by students of Western State Colorado University, (MGES) Masters in Gallery Management & Exhibits Specialization and exhibits a large portion of Mitchell's landscape paintings from his personal collection.
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Hispanic Traditional and Religious Art
The museum collection includes Santos which are holy representations that can be done as a retablo, a painting on a flat wood panel or a three dimensional figure, called a bulto. These folk art oil paintings on metal or wood were used in home altars to exalt Catholic saints in the 17th, 18th, and 19th century Mexican culture. The museum's collection includes santos, folk art, tin work, and period furniture. |
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Native American Collection
The museum's collection of Native American pottery includes items from Tesuque, Santa Clara, San Idelfonso, San Juan and Taos among others. Mitchell visited and painted in many places throughout the West and Southwest and collected many items during his visits. Mitchell and his sister Ethel Erickson, amassed a large collection of items including pottery, Navajo weavings and rugs, artifacts, tools and clothing.
The museum's collection of Native American pottery includes items from Tesuque, Santa Clara, San Idelfonso, San Juan and Taos among others. Mitchell visited and painted in many places throughout the West and Southwest and collected many items during his visits. Mitchell and his sister Ethel Erickson, amassed a large collection of items including pottery, Navajo weavings and rugs, artifacts, tools and clothing.
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Western Collectibles Collection
Mitchell was a collector of all things Western and even the most utilitarian item is included in his treasures. Saddles, whips, boots, hats and even old shovels, all which were used to create the accurate details in his paintings can be seen at the museum. Mitchell collected firearms for his reference while painting and many of his Western covers showed men using these weapons.
Mitchell was a collector of all things Western and even the most utilitarian item is included in his treasures. Saddles, whips, boots, hats and even old shovels, all which were used to create the accurate details in his paintings can be seen at the museum. Mitchell collected firearms for his reference while painting and many of his Western covers showed men using these weapons.
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