CODY, Wyo., August 23, 2023 – Cody, Wyo. (population 10,000), packs an artistic punch that is way above its population weight class. And with the town’s biggest art event of the year – Rendezvous Royale – right around the corner, fall-season travelers with an interest in artsy adventures will find plenty to love about this classic Western destination.
“From the street sculptures that line Sheridan Avenue to the town’s numerous galleries, I am surrounded by our destination’s world-class art every day of the year,” said Ryan Hauck, executive director of Cody Yellowstone, the marketing arm for the region that includes the towns of Cody, Powell and Meeteetse, parts of the Shoshone National Forest and a large swath of Yellowstone National Park. “Cody’s heritage of art can be traced to almost a century ago, when New York heiress Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney created The Scout, a massive sculpture of Buffalo Bill Cody on horseback.”
Hauck noted that The Scout, which is the cornerstone of the Whitney Western Art Museum, turns 100 next year. Considered one of the best of its kind in the country, the Whitney Western Art Museum turns 65 next year. One of five museums within the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, the Whitney is known for its works by famous Western artists such as Charlie Russell, Frederic Remington, Thomas Moran, Albert Bierstadt and many others.
The town was lauded by USA Today in a list of Top Small Town Arts Scenesearlier this summer.
Rendezvous Royale
The biggest art event of the year is the Rendezvous Royale, a celebration of fine art interpreting the land, people and wildlife of the American West. Scheduled for Sept. 18 – 23, 2023, the multi-day event includes an auction of contemporary Western art, a Quick Draw event, educational seminars and studio tours. The celebration is capped by the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, a massive fine art sale showcasing stylistic interpretations of the American West, and the elegant Patron’s Ball.
Art Around Town
Cody features numerous other art attractions that showcase art crafted by local and regional artists. The Cody Country Art League is also a favorite stop, with pottery, photography, mosaics, jewelry and other artwork crafted by more than 200 artists. Another celebrated attraction is By Western Hands Museum & Gallery, a non-profit artisan guild that showcases Western design and functional art and includes galleries and workshop space. Famed functional furniture designer Thomas Molesworth popularized a Western design style that continues to inspire modern artists.
Cody is also home to numerous art galleries showcasing paintings, sculptures, jewelry and other original pieces created by local and regional artists and photographers.
