Donna Howell-Sickles | Texas | Desert Caballeros Western Museum

Having grown up on a ranch in North Texas close to the Red River, Donna Howell-Sickles developed her affinity for nature, animals, and the west at an early age. After graduating from Texas Tech University with a BFA in Painting and Drawing she almost immediately found her muse in the cowgirl and her artwork has for over 40 years delt with the images, the spirit, and the myth of the American west. Her nationally recognized and distinctive artwork filled with bright colors and spirited cowgirls can be found in twelve museum collections including the Booth Museum of Western Art and the Tucson Museum of Art.

Along with winning numerous awards in invitational Museum shows, Howell-Sickles artwork has been published in countless print articles and has been included in many books about western art. Her artwork has been the focus for solo exhibitions at the Steamboat Art Museum, The National Cowgirl Hall of Fame, and the Booth Museum of western Art. A book about her work, Cowgirl Rising was published in 1997 by Greenwich Workshop. In November 2007, Donna Howell-Sickles was inducted into the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas in honor of the body of work she has created about the Cowgirl. In 2011 she was listed as one of the 40 most Prominent People in the Western Art World by Southwest Art Magazine.

“My love of figure drawing, the American West, and mythology have walked me to this platform where I can stand and create art that tells the stories of women, animals, and this rich land with dignity and joy. My artwork reflects my admiration for the strong Western women of past and present and connects them to women’s stories from around the world. When reality is messy, I find solace in these reflections of life that I am privileged to draw. I strive to communicate the value found in seeing the beauty that continuously surrounds us, and the importance of choosing joy whenever the opportunity arises.”

Main Gallery: