William Matthews is one of North America’s finest artists creating today. His depictions of the American West resonate through the mastery of his chosen medium, watercolor. Willy captures the soul of a West we long to experience, from cowboys and cowgirls working cattle in the great basin and mountains of Colorado to grain silos along train tracks in remote regions. Through many miles and countless friendships across this country, he nurtures his passion to observe and participate in the culture of the West he loves.

For over 50 years William Matthews’s adventures in the world of fine art have brought him to a career featuring numerous accolades, collaborations, gallery shows and museum exhibitions. His collectors enjoy being educated through his works depicting cultures, flora and fauna from many parts of the world.

Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of The West featured a major retrospective exhibition, “WILLIAM MATTHEWS – DECADES” in October of 2023. The acclaimed show was extended due to its popularity through 2024. Decades featured dozens of paintings, ephemera and tools from the decades of William Matthews. Today, Willy’s life journey continues with full force, and we are always excited to see what next catches his eye and is revealed through the beauty of his masterful hand.

William Matthews and his wife Laura live in Denver, Colorado

Click below to enjoy the pieces from the exhibition

February 15–March 20

Step into the heart of the wild with us for a captivating exhibition showcasing the beauty and diversity of wildlife through the eyes of celebrated painters and sculptors.

Be sure to check back on the digital exhibition as works are added, or stop by the gallery to enjoy this exciting exhibition in person!

Featuring the work of Roy Andersen, Jim Bortz, Kenneth Bunn, Hannah Harper, Steve Kestrel, Robert Lougheed, Jim Morgan, Peregrine O’Gormley, Dan Ostermiller, Tim Shinabarger, and Wayne Wolfe

The skill required to capture the dynamic fluidity of a rushing river, or a gentle brook is on full display this January at Claggett/Rey Gallery.

All landscape painting is an exercise in creating permanence from an ephemeral subject, but this challenge is especially pronounced when the focus is on water—an ever-shifting element that resists capture in a single, unchanging moment. The Greek philosopher Heraclitus said, “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” This speaks to the heart of our group exhibition, Ebb & Flow, where artists strive to immortalize the fluid, transient beauty of waterscapes—moments that can never be fully recaptured but, through art, can be preserved in their essence.

In this exhibition, we are proud to present works by renowned artists from across the country, each bringing their own interpretation to the complex interplay of water, light, and land. The featured works span a wide range of geographical settings, from tranquil, meandering streams to the powerful rivers of the American wilderness. Whether capturing the expansive sweep of a lake or the intricate details of a riverbed and its aquatic inhabitants, the diversity of these waterscapes showcases the remarkable variety within the natural world.

Featuring the work of Josh Elliott, Walt Gonske, Joel Johnson, Kent Lemon, Derek Penix, Daniel Sprick, John Taft, and several other celebrated artists

Beginning December 1st, Claggett/Rey Gallery will host new watercolors by Timothy James Standring

Timothy James Standring recently followed the footsteps of J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851) throughout the cantons of Switzerland.  Standring strove to paint his watercolors with the same verve, energy, and brio of the British’s master’s Swiss watercolors, especially those of Mont Rigi above Lake Lucerne that Turner painted in the early 1840s.  Standring also painted in Zurich, Schaffhausen, Lausanne, Lucerne, Auth, Brienz, Schloss Oberhofen on Lake Thun, Geneva, Mont Salène and Fort l’Ecluse (both in present day France). The results are stunning in their bold, free handling of the pigments with a one-inch-wide goat hair brush for many of the sheets. In some cases, Standring’s homage to Turner enabled the Denver artist to produce unexpected visual statements.

Though small in scale, Standring’s watercolors pierce the assumed poetics the medium aspires to express. Over the past decade, he has brought a gimlet-eyed attention to a painterly parity of close observation and delight in his material. Deft material sensitivity and technique, both traditional and radical, register in the recurring themes he paints.  In addition to Turner, Standring’s influences stem from Edgar Degas and John Singer Sargent, to Joaquín Sorolla and Andrew Wyeth.

ARTIST’S RECEPTION

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14 | 5–8PM

216 Main Street, Suite C-100 | Edwards, Colorado 81632
Between Starbucks and Slifer Design

Thank you for joining us for spirited conversation with Timothy Standring and fellow appreciators of fine art.

Throughout the month of November, Claggett/Rey Gallery will host Construct, a group exhibition celebrating the structures created by people across the globe and their interaction with the natural world

(Above) “Derelict” (Detail) by Kent Lemon | 24"×24" | Oil | $9,000

Featuring the work of Gerald Fritzler, W. Truman Hosner, Joel Johnson, Kent Lemon, Billyo O’Donnell, Curt Walters, and more

We are proud to host a variety of artists from across the Americas to share their work and how it has been influenced by Will James. The gallery will be hosting painters, draftsmen, photographers, sculptors, writers, furniture makers, hat makers, smiths, jewelers, rawhide braiders, bit and spur makers, and saddle makers.

Saturday, August 10
5–8 PM

216 Main Street, Suite C-100
Edwards, Colorado 81632

Thank you for joining us, along with several artists and appreciators of Western art, for a celebration of Will James’ legacy.

Jay Adcock, Bill Anton, Wayne Baize, Teal Blake, Sophy Brown, Tom Browning, Shawn Cameron, Mike Capron, Wilson Capron, Todd Connor, Bob Coronato, Tyler Crow, Glenn Dean, Jane DeDecker, Jay Dusard, Josh Elliott, Phil Epp, Deborah Fellows, Bruce Greene, Brad Greenwood, Martin Grelle, Scott Hardy, Linda Hayden, Bo Joe, T.D. Kelsey, Pablo Lozano, Matt Litz, Rich Loffler, William Matthews, Herb Mignery, Joe Milazzo, Paul Moore, John Moyers, Terri Kelly Moyers, Tyler Murphy, Bill Nebeker, Scott O’Farrell, Julie Oriet, Joel Ostlind, Pedro Pedrini, Noe Perez, Scott Tallman Powers, Maximo Prado, Clark Kelley Price, Robert Pummill, Grant Redden, Jim Rey, Javier Ribeyrol, Cary Schwarz, Jason Scull, Tim Shinabarger, Cathy Smith, Ezra Tucker, Barbara Van Cleve, Don Weller, Rygh Westby, John Willemsma, Stewart Williamson, and Kathy Wipfler

Joe Beeler, Ed Borein, Robert Lougheed, Bill Owen, James Reynolds, and many others who have passed will be honored for their contributions to the world of Western art.

We are proud to present a series of apparel options and a specialty custom-made wooden puzzle to celebrate Cowboys North and South.

JOIN US FOR CLAGGETT/REY GALLERY’S 34TH ANNUAL

December 15–January 15

Curated in this group exhibition were new works of art from some of the most creative minds across the master crafting, sculpting and painting panoplies in the country

PAINTERS | SCULPTORS | CRAFTSMEN

Join us to celebrate our 34th year representing some of the most talented and renowned artists in America

Claggett/Rey Gallery is proud to debut new pieces by acclaimed plein-air pastel master, W. Truman Hosner.

The show's centerpiece will be Life in San Miguel, Quintessential California – 12 small paintings created on-site this past Spring. In addition, the show will have a wide range of Plein-air paintings including other works from California, Detroit, France, and Spain.

W. Truman Hosner

Born in 1950, Detroit native William Truman Hosner (Bill to his friends) earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts at Wayne State University, and went on to study illustration at the Center for Creative Studies, College of Art and Design, Detroit.

During his seventeen-year career as a professional illustrator, Hosner produced brilliant illustrations for Reader’s Digest, General Motors, Field and Stream Magazine, CBS-Fox Video, and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.  In the early 1990s—at the peak of a very successful career in commercial art—Hosner re-dedicated himself to fine art painting, intent upon building a new career which would allow him the freedom to grow artistically as well as spiritually.  To further develop his artistic abilities, he enrolled in the Scottsdale Artists’ School in Arizona, where he studied under two Master Painters, Harley Brown and Dan Gerhartz.

Over the past twenty years, Hosner had the honor of the friendship and personal mentoring of Max Altekruse, who post-World War II was a student of the distinguished Frank Reilly, of the Art Students League of New York, who apprenticed under the renowned Dean Cornwell.

W. Truman Hosner is a Master Pastelist with the Pastel Society of America, a Master Pastelist with the International Association of Pastel Societies, Maitre Pastelliste for the Pastel Society of Eastern Canada, and a Distinguished Master with the Pastel Society of the West Coast.

Enjoy a preview of W. Truman Hosner’s new works below

Artist’s Reception
November 17, 5–8pm

Thank you for joining us to celebrate W. Truman Hosner’s new pieces at the gallery with the artist and fellow enthusiasts and collectors.

Claggett/Rey Gallery is proud to debut new landscapes by acclaimed painter, Lanny Grant, alongside masterfully crafted wearable art by Bo Joe.

Bo Joe

Bo Joe is renowned for his mastery of precious metals and gemstones, notably turquoise, with creations that come in the form of little, hand sculptures. Using traditional tufa casting, Bo draws upon his Diné and Ute descent. Growing up in a family that celebrated the arts, Bo landed on jewelry as his expression of choice following a successful career in music. Bo’s work has transcended into individual works of fine art — sculpture made to be worn. A oneness with his materials and observance of cultural tradition has led Bo to create masterworks in metal and stone.

Lanny Grant

Raised on a ranch near Silt, this Colorado-native developed a deep relationship with the mountains. During family fishing trips, Lanny spent more time exploring the woods than trying to snag fish. Inspired by the vistas that make Lanny pause on a walk or drive, he is known to pull out a canvas and his paints to recreate the scene on the spot. Smaller works allow him to finish paintings on site, while his larger works are completed in his studio based on numbers of sketches and oil color studies. Lanny’s work sparks viewers’ imaginations by transporting them into remote regions they might not otherwise experience.

Artist’s Reception
July 15, 5–8pm

Thank you for joining us to celebrate Lanny Grant and Bo Joe’s new work at the gallery!

Jane DeDecker has been sculpting the human figure for over thirty-five years. She seeks to capture moments that reveal truths about the human condition, that, when stripped down to their essence, are understood intrinsically. As a figurative sculptor, she communicates emotional experience through lyrical compositions that move the viewer. DeDecker’s sculptures stop life in mid-sentence – somewhere between inhaling and exhaling – and gives it form. She tells a story through the simple moments that imprint our lives and define us. 

DeDecker was born in Marengo, Iowa in 1961.  She grew up with nine sisters and brothers on a family farm, and her art work reflects a connection to nature, both the environment and human nature.  As DeDecker works the clay, concepts emerge from memories and observations of life. Impressions of something felt, seen, or heard take three-dimensional form. A family rising with the dawn becomes a spiritual awakening. A woman worn thin by her burdens opens the possibility of a lightness of being. A man managing a wheelbarrow reminds us of the steadfast patience to balance life’s abundance.

From Denver, Colorado, Nancy Switzer paints still lifes of simple, everyday objects such as milk cartons, water glasses, cans, and more. She is known for her textural, heavy application of paint. An eye for complexity in simple subjects is key to Switzer’s work, saying of cans “A can is a simple shape. It reflects everything around it, takes form and is defined by reflecting what it is not. The can is only visible because of what it reflects. Looking at a can for a time, one begins to see what is-not-there.”

As a child Switzer was encouraged by her mother, an amateur artist. The family was musical, and she and her siblings performed as a quintet and took music lessons in Houston, where they traveled from their home in Freeport. At age 15, she played violin with the Norfolk Symphony in Virginia, and in her 20s, played violin with the Oslo, Norway, Philharmonic.

She attended the North Carolina School of the Arts as a music student and later changed to art studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. She received her Bachelor's Degree from the Rhode Island School of Design and returned to art after finishing her formal education. She is inspired by the painting of Joaquin Sorolla as well as George Bellows.

Thank you for joining us to celebrate Jane DeDecker’s and Nancy Switzer’s new work at the gallery.

Saturday, March 11
5–8pm

We invite you to join us in celebrating the Eagle Valley Land Trust with a special exhibition of Lanny Grant, Kent Lemon, and a variety of other beloved landscape masters.

Eagle Valley Land Trust

Eagle Valley Land Trust plays a leading role in protecting our most precious lands, while educating our community about the benefits of conserving the rural character of our valleys.

Our mission is to protect forever the lands we love, to preserve our heritage, scenic beauty, recreational opportunities, and wildlife habitats, and to build a permanent legacy for future generations.

Nature’s Preservation Reception

Thursday, September 29th | 5–7pm
216 Main Street, Suite C-100
Edwards, CO 81632

Thank you for joining us for an evening of wonderful landscapes, spirited conversation, and lovely company in celebration of the Eagle Valley Land Trust. Wine courtesy of Silver Oak Cellars and Twomey were served and a wonderful spread was provided by The Grazing Fox.

A celebration of the work of James Reynolds (1926–2010)

August 2022

Throughout the month of August 2022, Claggett/Rey Gallery is proud to present “Defining Beauty,” a celebration of Western and Landscape master, James Reynolds.

Thank you for joining us for the

Defining Beauty Reception

Thursday, August 25th | 5–7pm

Over 20 James Reynolds originals in one place is certainly something to celebrate.

The month of July 2022 Josh Elliott will be the featured artist at Claggett/Rey Gallery in Edwards, Colorado with his show “GRANDEUR” large scale landscapes. The artists reception will be held on Saturday July 23rd. Claggett/Rey Gallery has been working with Josh Elliott since January of 2003 and over the past two decades they have hosted numerous shows and featured his paintings.  The idea for the show has been in Josh’s head for quite some time and the gallery has enthusiastically encouraged and embraced the idea. Gallery owner/partner Bill Rey says, “There is a strength and conviction in the paintings of Josh Elliott, where his textures and layers are as exciting and interesting as his subjects and compositions. It’s so great to be able to host a major show of work like this, and it is unprecedented in the gallery world today. This is not nostalgic paintings of a world gone by, but actual locations of the West he loves. I think his time in the field as an observer and deep thinker shows through his creative truth, no matter the scale of each painting. They are just different, and we are honored to represent Josh Elliott, and walk this artful path together”.

Thank you for joining us for the artist’s reception, held July 23, 2022.

Throughout the month of March 2022 Claggett / Rey Gallery will be proudly celebrating the work of artist Derek Penix.  The gallery walls will be adorned with more than 20 new masterpieces created over the past 6 months.   In 2020 Derek settled his family in the surging town of Temecula CA.  A destination that claims its community to be compiled of “curious mavericks… and accomplished and passionate people.”  Well, this bold description aligns with Derek’s intimate and confident approach to capturing the world through his unique lens. Surrounded by orchards, vineyards, and the colors of nature, this bountiful environment infuses Derek with an abundance of energy and inspiration.  Derek transports us from the fruit-laden branches and serenity of a koi pond to the cacophony of the streets and sidewalks of New York.   This vibrant exhibition will be available online starting March 1st or come immerse yourself in the world of Derek’s splendor at our beautiful gallery space in Edwards, CO.

Jane DeDecker has hit her stride in honoring the historic significance of women’s achievements through sculptural form.  Throughout her career, she has commemorated the accomplishments of over 35 trailblazers like Amelia Earhart, Emily Dickenson, Harriett Tubman, Ida B. Wells, Alice Paul, Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Hellen Keller, and Laura Cornelius Kellogg--this list just scratches the surface of the league of women she has brought into her life and her studio.  These women were there to bear witness and bear the burden of discrimination and doubt about their abilities because of their gender.  Against insurmountable odds, these champions accomplished groundbreaking achievements.  Currently, Jane has over 15 sculptures of sentinel women (in various stages of completion) gracing her studio.  And there is always room for more.

Cities and special interest groups across the nation have been commissioning Jane to capture and honor their local unsung heroine and icons.  Until now many of these women were merely forgotten and rarely mentioned but in footnotes. DeDecker’s latest commission debut is an homage to 4 giants in the civil rights movement titled “Ripples of Change” for Seneca Falls, NY.   As described by Jane “Each of these women has their own individual connection to Seneca Falls as well as their unified dedication to women’s suffrage…Each answers their own call to effect change, and yet their individual efforts merge into a coalesced movement that promotes, honors, and expands the rights of women.”  Claggett/Rey Gallery is proud to represent Jane’s collection of historic women and if your community is ready to tell the story of a local legend, we can help you make that story come to fruition.

Claggett / Rey Gallery in Edwards, CO in conjunction with the Eagle Valley Land Trust will be hosting an exhibition September 1st – 26th titled “Nature’s Preservation”.  This show will feature painters, Kent Lemon and Lanny Grant and sculptor Steve Kestrel.  Three dedicated artists who have entwined their careers around visually capturing the grandeur of their natural surroundings. The Land Trust has opened their 34 preserves to these 3 artists with a chance for them to focus on the land, water, wildlife and ranch-life of the natural world of Eagle County.  Sculptor, Steve Kestrel finds inspiration on his 43-acre wildlife preserve in northern Colorado.  Steve is known for his expert skill of revealing creatures of nature out of native Colorado stones often collected from his property.  Colorado native Kent Lemon has spent his career enthusiastically capturing the finite details of intimate discoveries.  His intimate vignettes of nature invite the viewer to step into the scene. 

Don Coen’s oversized canvases are a visual chronicle of everyday life within these rural American landscapes. A powerful statement of universal realization and intense reverence for life is created by Coen’s telling of the forgotten beauty and reality of farm and ranch life.

Colorado sculptor, Jane DeDecker, is creating several designs to be considered for the National Women’s Suffrage Monument for Washington DC. In 2020 we celebrated the year of the woman and honored the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment. To honor the core group of women who pursued this movement, a Bill (HR473) was passed through the US Congress in 2020 which allows Jane to create and place a monument to these courageous women in Washington DC. “Stand” is one of several options available to purchase—other sizes available that may vary in design. Please inquire through Claggett Rey Gallery for more details.

A VIRTUAL SPRING SHOW

Robert Pummill celebrates the beauty and serenity of the Texas countryside. Enjoy the cascading bluebonnets and bask with us in the color and warmth of Spring.

View the complete show catalog below.

Artist bio and available works