The Horse. Ever Inspirational.

Power. Grace. Beauty. Nobility. Strength. Freedom.

All attributes embodied by the Horse. 

Which do you find inspiring?

Throughout history, well before written language, humans have been fascinated with horses, assigning them a special place in their cultural narrative. Revered as symbols of wealth, power, and status, every major civilization saw the horse as a herald of the spoils of war, victory, longevity, and triumph. 

Several Sorrel Sky artists, working in various mediums, feature the horse in their work. Explore their jewelry, paintings, sculptures, and photography inspired by these majestic animals.  

The horse has long been revered by Native American tribes, signifying mobility, stamina, and strength. In addition, they represented loyalty, love, and devotion, and were a sign of mutual respect. It is believed that a person can inherit some of an animal's virtues by wearing an image of it. 

That is one reason why this noble creature has always played an important role in Ben Nighthorse's jewelry designs. “I have always liked horses for their emotion, strength, and dignity.” Ben and his wife Linda are champion Quarter Horse trainers; this personal experience provides him with insight and understanding as he creates his newest equine designs.

Acclaimed Crow artist Kevin Red Star, fully captures the essence of his culture, providing a visual history and authentic insights into the “Horse People.” It has been said that the Crow possesses a mythical connection with the horse. 

Red Star shares, “I hear from the Ancient Ones, that the horse has always been with the plains people. They were essential to life; for hunting and scouting, for guarding and moving camp. Everyone was connected to the horse. The warrior, the lookout, the young ones, and the old ones.” Intertwining his Indian culture with a contemporary perspective, Red Star brings this harmonious relationship, based on honor and reverence, to life in his paintings.

Perceiving mankind’s enduring relationship with equine, either tangible or idealistic, sculptor Star Liana York focuses on that shared and personal enthusiasm in her work. In her words, “Watching wild Mustangs, their strength, and sense of self-preservation, I often think of how man throughout history interacted with these wild creatures. It was a journey for both the horse and the human, where respect had to be given and earned. That relationship has not changed with time.”

A quote that Star often thinks of as she continues on her own equine journey is from American poet Oliver Wendell Holmes, well-expressing man's ongoing love of the horse, “The essential joy of being with horses is that it puts you in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit, and fire.”

Sculptor Lisa Gordon was born and raised in Southern California. In her teenage years, she rode, sketched, cared for, and trained horses. Those deep-rooted memories have become the foundation of her powerful, yet sensitive sculptures.

Lisa’s sculptures feature horses balanced on spheres, walking through hoops, straddling pedestals, and swaying on rockers while wearing cowboy boots. Although she often creates and casts other wild things, Lisa sees the power of the horse, set in whimsical scenes, as a metaphor for the human experience, demonstrating the balance between having fun and giving life purpose. In her words, “Horses are powerful, but that’s not what they need in a situation of precarious balance. They’re massive, physical beings, but there’s a frailty and delicacy of the legs—much like the human soul.”

After successfully spending over 20 years as a high-end advertising photographer in San Francisco, Tony Stromberg found himself disenchanted, burned out, and ultimately receiving no nourishment from his work. It looked like he had everything, but he felt that his inner landscape was barren and he began “searching” for his lost spirit. When horses came into his life, Tony realized that he had found his teachers, and the connections that he developed helped steer his life in a completely different direction.

“Horses have taught me so much in the time I have spent with them," says Tony. "They have taught me about the power of authenticity, honesty, integrity, and the true meaning of leadership and relationships. They have also taught me about living in collaboration and community.” Often referred to as “visual poetry,” his images truly embrace and reveal the beauty and grace of these noble steeds.

Be sure to reach out to our team of art advisors with any questions about the art featured in this blog or on our website. We'd love to see you at the gallery where you can enjoy them in person.