The Western art market has had some recent fireworks in New York City, but the market strength really goes back into 2025, when auctions all around the West recorded strong sales, consistent bidding, crowded showrooms and record-breaking registrations. One of those sales was Scottsdale Art Auction, which returns in 2026 with a two-session sale on April 10 and 11.
The annual auction will feature more than 460 lots across both historic and contemporary Western art. As with past sales, it’s the historic material that will likely make up the bulk of the top lots, with major works on offer from artists such as Eanger Irving Couse, Joseph Henry Sharp, Nicolai Fechin, Frederic Remington and others.
Nicolai Fechin (1881-1955), Carmencita. Oil, 20 x 16 in. Estimate: $600/900,000
For auction partner Brad Richardson, Western art had a great year in 2025 and will likely continue in 2026. “We are very fortunate that Western art seems to be in a great market, while other markets such as contemporary, Americana and others have flattened,” Richardson says. “We have a lot of momentum going into the sale and we’re excited to see where it goes.”
The sale kicks off at noon on both April 10 and 11, with the works on view three weeks prior to the sale. The first session is typically filled with lots with lower estimates that usually pull in competitive bidders, while the second session has many of the star lots with six-figure estimates. This year’s second session will include the sale of 17 works by author and artist Will James, whose books about the West are classics of the genre. One of the pieces is Smoky and Clint, which was the cover of James’ Scribner’s Illustrated Classic book Smoky the Cowhorse, written and illustrated by James. The piece is estimated at $50,000 to $75,000.
E. Martin Hennings (1886-1956), Homeward Through the Sage. Oil, 14 x 14 in. Estimate: $100/150,000
Frederic Remington (1861-1909), The Broncho Buster, modeled 1895, cast 1906. Bronze, cast No. 56, 23¼ in. Estimate: $250/350,000
Major highlights in the 2026 sale are five works by Fechin, whose portraits from the Southwest are favorites among collectors. Fechin, who was born in Russia and moved to New Mexico in 1926, is often cited as one of the top portrait painters in the country who is frequently grouped with artists such as John Singer Sargent and Robert Henri. Works in the sale include Benepe (est. $75/125,000), showing model and fellow artist Katharine Buzzell (Shackelford) Benepe, and Consuelo (est. $175/275,000). The star of the grouping, though, will likely be Carmencita, showing a young girl in an orange dress. The painting is estimated at $600,000 to $900,000.
In the area of bronze sculpture, the sale will have an important cast of Remington’s The Broncho Buster, one of the most iconic sculptures in all of American art. The sale will offer Roman Bronze Works cast No. 56 of the famous work, which was cast during the artist’s lifetime in 1906. Casts in the 50s and lower are considered very rare and cherished by Remington collectors. Fewer than 330 casts were made of the bronze, and today many of them are in museum collections. The cast at Scottsdale Art Auction is estimated at $250,000 to $350,000.
Eanger Irving Couse (1866-1936), The Master Potter. Oil, 24 x 29 in. Estimate: $150/250,000
Nicolai Fechin (1881-1955), Still Life, Floral. Oil, 24 x 20 in. Estimate: $300/400,000
In the landscape genre, the sale will offer Edgar Payne’s Rugged Peaks – Sierra, likely painted around 1921 after the artist discovered the Sierra Nevadas in California. The piece is estimated at $50,000 to $75,000. Also available are Albert Bierstadt’s Forest Pool in Autum (est. $20/30,000), Thomas Moran’s Teoloyucan, Mexico (est. $75/125,000) and Texas painter Julian Onderdonk’s Bluebonnets in Late Afternoon (est. $40/60,000)
The sale frequently features major works from the Taos Society of Artists and this year is no exception with lots by many of the greats from Northern New Mexico. Among the pieces are Homeward Through the Sage (est. $100/150,000) from E. Martin Hennings, The Medicine Man (est. $125/175,000) from Joseph Henry Sharp and Autumn at Taos Pueblo (est. $35/55,000) from Laverne Nelson Black. Eanger Irving Couse will be represented in the sale with two major scenes showing Native American subjects with objects in interior settings: The Master Potter (est. $150/250,000) and A Weaver (est. $300/500,000). The Couse paintings represent some of the artist’s most popular and beloved work. The artist photographed many of his models with Native American objects, including weavings, pottery, carvings, painted buffalo hides, flutes and other objects. Many of the photographs, including several with these exact objects, have survived today.
Joseph Henry Sharp (1859-1953), The Medicine Man. Oil, 20 x 24 in. Estimate: $125/175,000
LeRoy Neiman (1921-2012), Vegas Craps. Oil, 32 x 44 in. Estimate: $60/80,000
Other artists with works in the sale are John Clymer, Leon Gaspard, Fremont Ellis, William Gollings, Tom Lovell, B.J.O. Nordfeldt, Sheldon Parsons and Robert Lougheed.
The auction house offers an in-house bid platform, as well as other platforms and methods of bidding. It also encourages guests to visit the auction to bid in person. “We always have a great turnout with strong attendance,” Richardson says. “We expect anywhere from 400 to 450 in the room, which makes for an exciting sale.” —
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