Celebrating Our Artists’ Awards & Achievements

At Sorrel Sky Gallery, we take immense pride in our artists' remarkable accomplishments. Over the past year, they have earned prestigious awards, secured high-profile exhibition invitations, and gained recognition in top-tier publications. These achievements affirm their exceptional talent and reinforce their contributions to contemporary Western and wildlife art. As we move into 2025, we celebrate their acclaim and look forward to another year of creative excellence.

Sorrel Sky Gallery has always been honored to represent some of the finest Native American artists, and this year, their impact has been particularly profound. 

Darryl Dean and Rebecca Begay, along with their son Robert, were prominently featured in the February/March 2025 issue of Native American Art Magazine. The Begay family has a long-standing legacy of excellence, including a Best of Show award at the prestigious Santa Fe Indian Market. Their masterful jewelry and metalwork are cherished in significant collections across the country.

Renowned metalsmith and jeweler Shane Hendren further elevated his career by receiving the distinguished 2025 Mellon Foundation Fellowship at Diné College. His expertise was also showcased in the Smithsonian Center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage Magazine in a January 2025 profile titled "When Working with Metal Is Like Riding a Bull." Hendren's ability to fuse tradition with innovation continues to push the boundaries of Native American jewelry design.

Maria Samora also had a standout year, winning Best of Jewelry at the 2024 Heard Museum Show. This recognition builds upon her past selection as a featured artist at the Smithsonian Craft Fair, further solidifying her reputation as a leading figure in contemporary Native American jewelry.

Several Sorrel Sky artists received recognition in major exhibitions dedicated to Western and wildlife art.

Kathryn Ashcroft earned accolades at the Southeastern Wildlife Expo and was featured in Art of the West Magazine in 2024, highlighting her growing influence in the field. Meanwhile, Julie Chapman achieved international acclaim as a Finalist in The Almenara Art Prize 2024 in Spain, where she secured the Williamsburg Oil Color prize in the Animals and Wildlife category.

For master sculptor Gerald Balciar, 2024 marked an extraordinary milestone: his 42nd consecutive year exhibiting at the prestigious Prix de West show. With works featured in eleven museums nationwide and multiple awards from the Society of Animal Artists, the National Sculpture Society, and the Masters of the American West at the Autry Museum, Balciar continues to leave an indelible mark on the art world.

Marlin Rotach was a standout in 2024, winning the People’s Choice Award at the Hold Your Horses Exhibition in Prescott, Arizona, and earning an Award of Excellence from Western Art Collector Magazine. His work was further celebrated as the official artwork for the 2024 Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo poster, a true testament to his mastery in equestrian-themed art.

Peggy Immel continued to gain prominence with invitations to two major exhibitions for the fifth consecutive year: the 2024 Small Works, Great Wonders Exhibition at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, and the Grand Canyon Celebration of Art hosted by the Grand Canyon Conservancy. She was also among 17 featured artists invited to the 2025 California Desert Plein Air Festival, underscoring her versatility and recognition in landscape painting.

Edward Aldrich has received numerous awards, and his work has been exhibited in shows throughout the country. His status as a top-tier Westen wildlife artist was further cemented when he won the distinguished Art of the West Award at the 2025 Coors Western Art Show.

David Yarrow’s powerful photography continues to captivate audiences worldwide. In 2024, he was named one of the Top Ten most inquired-about artists on Artsy, the world’s largest online art marketplace. This places him in the esteemed company of legendary artists such as Andy Warhol, Banksy, Damien Hirst, Yayoi Kusama, and Pablo Picasso, a singular achievement for a contemporary artist who finds inspiration in the West.

Sorrel Sky Durango will host an exclusive solo exhibition opening on February 26th as Yarrow returns to Durango for another round of stunning on-location shoots. Join us for an artist's reception from 5 to 8 pm, hear behind-the-scenes stories of Yarrow's most recent images shot in Yellowstone and the Tetons, and potentially see the unveiling of a shot from the Durango area.

Douglas Magnus, a Santa Fe icon and celebrated jewelry artist, is chronicling his extraordinary fifty-year career in a nine-volume digital publication. This extensive project offers an in-depth look at his evolution in jewelry-making and photography and is now available on his website, ensuring that his legacy is preserved for future generations.

Meanwhile, Cindy Long’s Come Rain or Come Shine was honored with the Museum Purchase Award from the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum, ensuring its place in a distinguished permanent collection.

The future looks bright for Sorrel Sky Gallery artists as they continue to receive invitations to prestigious exhibitions and museum showcases.

Maeve Eichelberger will be featured in two significant shows at the Buffalo Bill Museum: the Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale-Rendezvous Royal and the POP! Goes the West exhibit. Similarly, Chuck Middelkauff has been selected for inclusion in the Booth Western Art Museum’s Art Gala and Art Auction. Patricia Griffin, whose dynamic presence in wildlife art continues to grow, has upcoming appearances at the National Museum of Wildlife Art’s Plein Air Fest and Western Visions exhibitions, as well as the Fall Arts Festival in Jackson, Wyoming.

Renowned sculptor Rosetta will be honored with a solo retrospective show, Rosetta: Animal Artistry, a 40-Year Journey, at the Loveland Museum from June 28 through September 21. Additionally, she has been named the featured Legacy Artist in this year’s Colorado Governor’s Art Show, also at the Loveland Museum, running from May 3 through June 14. Her recent awards include First Place in the Master Signature category for "Panther’s Pride" at the 2024 American Women Artists Annual Juried Show. She also won Best in Show, Sculpture in 2023 and 2024 at the annual Cowgirl Up! shows for her outstanding pieces "High Country Totem" and "Spirit Brothers." These accolades further highlight Rosetta’s mastery and enduring impact in the field of wildlife sculpture.

The accomplishments of our artists in 2024 and early 2025 serve as a testament to their dedication, creativity, and influence in the world of contemporary Western, wildlife, and Native American art. Sorrel Sky Gallery remains committed to supporting and showcasing these extraordinary talents, providing them with a platform to share their vision and inspire audiences worldwide.

As we move forward, we celebrate these achievements with pride and enthusiasm, eager to witness the continued growth and success of our artists. Here’s to another year of pushing boundaries, earning accolades, and enriching the world with incredible art.