Western Art

For 40 years, Bonhams has held dedicated sales of California and Western art offering ground-breaking artists with record-setting results. The department holds two auctions a year in Los Angeles and online, representing a mix of historic and contemporary Western paintings, drawings and bronzes, as well as sporting and wildlife art, with consistently strong results.

The department held its finest Western art sale to date in February 2019 with the single-owner L.D. 'Brink' Brinkman Collection, totalling $8.3 million, with exceptional results for artists including Howard Terpning, Ernest Martin Hennings, Frank Tenney Johnson, and G. Harvey. The sale was 89% sold by lot and 90% sold by value.

Building on the success of the Brinkman Collection, Bonhams was honoured to offer a selection of contemporary Western art from the renowned Eddie Basha Collection in November 2019 with over $3 million in total sales. Important contemporary Western painters John Ford Clymer, Tom Lovell and Howard Terpning led the sale.

In August 2021, we were thrilled to offer 100 lots of historic and contemporary Western Art with a focus on the Taos Society of Artists group and Maynard Dixon in Portrait of the West: The Diane and Sam Stewart Collection. The sale was 95% sold by lot and achieved over $4 million.

Buying and selling Western art at Bonhams
Bonhams California and Western Art departments have over 80 years of combined experience, bringing professionalism and passion toward evaluating collections. We advise private collectors, corporate and public institutions on strategies for acquisition and deaccession, and in addition, can advise on negotiating private sale transactions for major works. Our specialists travel throughout the country and are supported by an extensive global network of representatives. Contact a specialist directly to discuss your collection or submit your item online for a free auction estimate.