True West Magazine
Howard Terpning – It’s Been a Long Day (1976) · Oil on Canvas, 24 x 34 inches · $321,300
– Courtesy Jackson Hole Art Auction –
Last year, when I recapped 2019 and trends in Western collecting, I focused on the sales of many splendid, comprehensive holdings gathered by discriminating collectors that became available for new owners. Although the tendency continued in 2020, one part of the equation changed due to new rules imposed by COVID-19. Despite hurdles created by the pandemic, dealers and sellers alike found ways to continue through online means and other innovations. Although some of the excitement of live auctions was lost, extraordinary and varied archival materials, art and artifacts brought vicarious thrills to bidders and observers.