The New American West — By Brush and by Bronze

Kathleen Frank + Mark Yale Harris
The New American West – By Brush and by Bronze

Opening Reception: Friday, March 6, 5:00–7:00 PM
Admission $15.00 for non-members, free for members (online tickets will be available soon)
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This exhibition brings together Kathleen Frank’s vibrant, pattern-rich oil paintings and Mark Yale Harris’s stylized figurative and wildlife bronze sculptures with each artist contributing a distinctive interpretation of the region’s landscape, culture, and spirit—offering a compelling dialogue on form, imagination, and the evolving narrative of the American West.

These two accomplished, award-winning artists are represented by 26 galleries collectively and their work is held in prestigious public and private collections worldwide. The touring exhibit of sculpture and painting is being presented across three museums including the Museum of the Big Bend. The show continues at the Museum of the Big Bend through May 30, 2026.

About Kathleen Frank
Based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Kathleen Frank captures the vibrant energy and structure of the land through bold, dynamic brushwork. Her process begins with a rich red-orange underpainting, layered with luminous strokes that reveal glimpses of color beneath. Having hiked hundreds of miles across the Southwest to find her subjects, Frank finds rhythm and order in the natural world’s complexity.

Recent exhibitions include: St. George Museum of Art (Utah); Northwest Montana History Museum; MonDak Museum Heritage Center (Montana); WaterWorks Art Museum (Montana); and University of New Mexico Valencia.

About Mark Yale Harris
Living and working in Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley (by way of Santa Fe and Austin), Mark Yale Harris draws inspiration from his years exploring the Big Bend region and Texas Hill Country on horseback. His contemporary bronze and stone sculptures express the emotional and spiritual connections between humanity and nature.

After a successful career in hospitality—as co-founder of Red Roof Inns and founder of AmeriSuites Hotels—Harris turned to sculpture in the 1990s. Mentored by renowned sculptors Bill Prokopiof and Doug Hyde, he honed a style that reveals the dualities of human experience.

His work has been exhibited internationally at institutions including the Musée de Peinture de Saint-Frajou (France), Coos Art Museum (Oregon), Royal Scottish Academy of Art (Scotland), Cape Cod Museum (Massachusetts), Yellowstone Art Museum (Montana), Booth Western Art Museum (Georgia), National Sculpture Society (New York), and Royal Academy of London (UK).

Exhibition Schedule
The Museum of Western Art – Kerrville, Texas
, Exhibition Concludes: January 10, 2026

Museum of the Big Bend – Alpine, Texas
, March 6–May 30, 2026

Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts – Spring, Texas
, October 3, 2026–January 2, 2027

Additional venues to be announced