exhibition sponsors

Lead Sponsors
Gary & Melissa Oakland

Supporting Sponsors
Gordon McConnell & Betty Loos

Contributing Sponsor
James Thompson

Earl E. Snook Family Gallery

November 15, 2024 – November 16, 2025

Will James: The Eternal Cowboy explores the archetypal cowboy figure as presented through the work of Montana artist and author Will James (1892 – 1942). Will James began working on ranches at the young age of 15 and continued working in the cow country throughout his life. James’ artistic portfolio is centered around the cowboy figure, and his famous cowboy novels, such as Smoky (1929) and Uncle Bill (1932), tell of an exhilarating life in the American West. In James’ final novel, The American Cowboy (1942), the book culminates with the declaration: “The cowboy will never die.” Will James: The Eternal Cowboy examines James’ archetypal cowboy figure through a selection of drawings, writings, and various archival materials from the YAM’s Virginia Snook Collection, and explores the artist’s contemplation of this role within a rapidly changing landscape.