Kathy Wipfler Biography scroll down to view works
From a childhood in rural central California, Kathy Wipfler moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming in 1979 to learn to paint on location. With help from local residents John Clymer, Conrad Schwiering, and Greg McHuron, she set out on a journey which has been intertwined with adventures in the art world, as well as in the traditional western ranching life.
Wipfler’s long time caretaking position on a local ranch has brought her many days of working cattle and riding several ranges of western Wyoming. Spending time with the hardy life-long residents of Jackson Hole has given Kathy a rich background of the history and traditions of this beautiful part of the West.
Along this journey, Kathy has had many mentors in the art world, including Skip Whitcomb, Bill Reese, Ned Jacob, and Hollis Williford. Their information and friendship has been invaluable in her path to translating her vision of the landscape, wildlife, and ranch life of the West. After painting thousands of field sketches, Wipfler’s paintings started to become populated with the domestic animals and wildlife of the area, and her favorite painting spots are often in front of a field of cattle or horses. “My time spent painting on location (in all types of weather conditions) is the foundation for all my studio pieces. The field sketches, no matter how rough, are invaluable in the studio in my attempt to bring the feel of the scene to the viewer.”
Wipfler’s work is in the permanent collections of important museums, including the Booth Museum of Western Art, Cartersville, GA. the Whitney Western Art Museum, Cody, Wy., the National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson, Wy., the Kriendler Gallery of Contemporary Art, Cody, Wy., and the Brinton Museum, Big Horn, Wy.
KATHY WIPFLER – PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
Robert Kuhn Award - National Museum of Wildlife Art
2020 Important Painters of the West – Group Show – Feb. – June -Booth Museum of the West,
Cartersville, GA.
2019 Trailside Galleries Showcase – July, 2019
2018 - 19 Coors Western Art Show, Denver, CO.
2018 Trailside Galleries 55th Anniversary Show, Jackson, WY.
2020 – 88 Western Visions Show, National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson, WY.
2020 – 96 Buffalo Bill Art Show, Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody, WY.
2015 “Bruin Trio” received the Bob Kuhn Award – Western Visions, NMWA
2013 Solo Show, John Ford Clymer Museum, Ellensburg, WA.
2010 – 11 Coors Western Art Show, Denver, CO.
2011 Wipfler and the Boys Show, Simpson Gallagher Gallery, Cody, WY.
2011 Yellowstone in Winter Show, Simpson Gallagher Gallery, Cody, WY.
2009 Cowgirl Up Show, Desert Caballeros Museum, Wickenburg, AZ.
2008 – 05 Maynard Dixon Show, Mt. Carmel, UT.
2005 – 04 Guest Artist, Northwest Rendezvous Show, Helena, MT.
2001 – 02 Coors Western Art Show, Denver, CO.
2000 – 96 Instructor, Scottsdale Artist’s School, Scottsdale, AZ.
1994 Solo Show, Kimball Art Museum, Park City, UT.
1990 Best of Show Award, Western Regional Art Show, Cheyenne, WY.
REVIEWS
Art of the West Sept/Oct 2012 Sara Gilbert Frederick
Big Sky Journal Summer 2010 Aaron Schuerr
Western Art & Architecture Spring 2008 Michele Corriel
American Cowboy Nov/Dec. 2001 Susan McGarry
Art of the West Nov/Dec. 1999 Nancy Gillespie
Southwest Art Dec. 1993 Myrna Zanatel
COLLECTIONS
Booth Western Art Museum – Cartersville, GA.
National Museum of Wildlife Art – Jackson, WY.
Whitney Gallery of Western Art - Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody, WY.
The Brinton Museum - Big Horn, WY.
Craig Thomas Visitor Center, Grand Teton National Park - Permanent Collection
Kriendler Gallery – Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody, WY.
Senator and Mrs. Alan Simpson
Governor and Mrs. Mike Sullivan
Governor and Mrs. Jim Geringer
22 Western States Governors