About the Exhibit
The Autry National Center of the American West reveals a startling exhibition of contemporary art drawn primarily from its permanent collection. Representing many different viewpoints, the approximately 50 artists in this exhibition share a groundbreaking status within their respective fields. From Maynard Dixon to Richard Misrach, Maverick Art explores how these artists together expand the meaning of the term Western in their collective search for a new image of the contemporary West.
Maverick Art emphasizes work created after 1990 to reveal how contemporary artists see the West now as an artistic resource. While some explore the lingering presence of frontier icons such as cowboys and Indians, others have found new ways to connect Western mythos with the modern experience, revealing a dynamic place where tradition and innovation exist side-by-side.
"Maverick Art is about casting a wider net for our audience and the field of contemporary Western art alike. I'm interested not only in understanding how frontier mythos and imagery continues to influence our contemporary identity as Westerners, but also the emergence of newer themes, from freeway culture to the atomic bomb. Our notion of who constitutes a Western artist is changing as well. As the place itself becomes increasingly diverse, many artists seek to revive or reclaim historic traditions, producing new work that is linked to a cultural past but is also very much about the present," reflects Amy Scott, Curator of Visual Arts