Tom Lea: Western Beef Cattle

Round Up Time: Branding a Calf, 1945-1946, Oil on canvas covered masonite, 20” x 33.75”, Tom Lea, Dallas Museum of Art, gift of LIFE Magazine, 1950.32

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Tom Lea: Western Beef Cattle

A series of rarely exhibited paintings by the late El Paso artist Tom Lea (Dallas Museum of Art, gift of LIFE Magazine) are on display in the permanent gallery of the new Emmett & Miriam McCoy building.

Tom Lea Celebration 2024-2025
Exploring the Life Cycle of Beef Cattle

Saturday, October 12, 1:00-2:00 PM
Museum of the Big Bend

Experience the fascinating journey of beef cattle from birth to plate through one of the most prolific Southwest artists of the 20th century! To forget the horrors of WWII, Time Life Magazine asked Tom Lea to create a series of paintings portraying the life cycle of beef cattle. Although they were never published, his impeccable work remains and is admired by many.

Hear Sarah McKenzie of McKenzie Land & Livestock give insight about top-performing black Angus. Immerse yourself in the lyric storytelling of cowboy poet Joel Nelson while indulging in light appetizers. This event is sponsored by the Tom Lea Institute.

Admission is free. Click here to RSVP

Beef Steer in Feed Lot, 1945-1946, Oil on canvas covered masonite, 18″ x 32″, Tom Lea, Dallas Museum of Art, gift of LIFE Magazine, 1950.39