45th Annual Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale Opening Reception on August 6, 2026
The popular Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale (BBAS) is returning for its 45th year in Cody, Wyoming. This year’s show features more than 100 contemporary Western artists in mediums such as oil, watercolor, pastel, and bronze. These pieces will be available to view at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West for a 6-week exhibition before being sold at auction on Friday, September 18.
The exhibition of the Live Auction artwork will hang in the John Bunker Sands gallery inside the Center of the West. The public is invited to attend a free Opening Reception on Thursday, August 6 from 6-8 PM. The Cody Country Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors will join organizers of the event to cut the ribbon on the gallery entrance at 6PM sharp. Following the ribbon cutting, works from artists will be on display for the first time.
In addition to browsing the Live Auction gallery, attendees of the Opening Reception will enjoy complimentary light appetizers from the Center of the West and a cash bar. Many artists usually attend the event and mingle with patrons. The Buy-it-Now sale of small works will also be on display and a BBAS concierge will be available to facilitate sales during the Opening Reception.
More information about this year’s sales and events:
A virtual gallery and printed catalog are available before the auction, and bidders who cannot attend in person may register to bid by phone or leave absentee bids on their desired pieces.
Guests are invited to register by visiting buffalobillartshow.org, where they can also access the auction galleries, shop for small works online, and see the full schedule of events.
New patrons and collectors are welcome! Registration is required for all events, and attendance is limited. Tickets are available now and events historically sell out as early as September 1. If you prefer to register by phone, please call 307-586-1584 for personal assistance.
Patrons of the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale will enjoy a full week of artful activities in Cody, including art sales, exhibitions, community events, and painting workshops:
- Scout’s Miniature Sale – June through August. This exhibition of 60+ small works hangs in the Buffalo Bill Center of the West throughout the summer. Works are available for purchase both in person and online.
- Buy-it-Now Sale – July 15 to September 18. This wall sale of 60+ additional small works accompanies the live auction gallery. These pieces are also available in person and online. Online sales begin July 15, while in-person sales commence on August 6.
- Live Auction Exhibition – August 6 to September 18. More than 100 pieces of artwork in all mediums are on display in the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. The entire exhibition will be available to purchase during the live auction on Friday, September 18.
- Painting on the Porch with Kimball Geisler – September 14 to 16. A 3-day painting workshop for amateur-to-advanced painters. Includes instruction and fellowship with Geisler, a returning BBAS artist.
- Colorful Canvases with Nancy Dunlop Cawdrey – September 17. A half-day dye on silk workshop for beginner-to-advanced art enthusiasts. Prior experience in dye on silk is not required, and this class would be a great introduction to the medium. Includes instruction and fellowship with Cawdrey, a returning BBAS artist.
- Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale Live Auction – September 18. The week’s flagship event. All 100+ artwork lots from the Live Auction exhibition will be available for purchase. The evening includes a catered dinner, open bar, and silent auction. More than 600 patrons are expected for this energetic and elegant Western event. If you cannot attend in person, BBAS accepts absentee left bids until the week of the auction and offers live phone-concierge bidding. Contact BBAS for more information about bidding absentee.
- Quick Draw & Sale – September 19. A favorite event for locals and visitors alike, drawing an average of 650 attendees. Patrons watch 30+ Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale artists complete entirely new works in only 90 minutes. These pieces are immediately offered in a live auction while patrons enjoy a catered brunch. Patrons have a chance to engage with the artists and watch their creative process up close before bidding.
Organized by the Cody Country Chamber of Commerce, the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale strives to support established and emerging Western artists, engage patrons of the arts, and enliven the Cody community with events that provide education and entertainment. The proceeds from sales and events benefit the artists, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, the Cody Country Chamber of Commerce, and local arts organizations.
For more information, please visit buffalobillartshow.org.
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