The Museum of the Big Bend will host an opening reception March 6 for a new exhibition featuring the work of artists Kathleen Frank and Mark Yale Harris.
The exhibition, titled The New American West – By Brush and by Bronze, will be on display at the museum from March 6 through May 30, 2026. An opening reception is scheduled for Friday, March 6, from 5 to 7 p.m. Admission to the reception is $15 for non-members and free for museum members. Attendees who purchase non-member admission will not receive a physical ticket, and their names will be held on a list at the door.
The exhibition combines Frank’s oil paintings with Harris’s bronze sculptures, presenting two interpretations of the landscapes, culture and themes associated with the American West. The touring exhibition is being presented at three museums, including the Museum of the Big Bend.
Frank, who is based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, creates oil paintings characterized by layered brushwork and color built over a red-orange underpainting. She draws inspiration from extensive hiking throughout the Southwest. Her recent exhibitions include the St. George Museum of Art in Utah; Northwest Montana History Museum; MonDak Museum Heritage Center in Montana; WaterWorks Art Museum in Montana; and the University of New Mexico Valencia.
Harris lives and works in Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley and previously spent time in Santa Fe and Austin. His bronze and stone sculptures draw inspiration from his experiences exploring the Big Bend region and Texas Hill Country on horseback. Harris transitioned to sculpture in the 1990s after a career in the hospitality industry as co-founder of Red Roof Inns and founder of AmeriSuites Hotels. He studied under sculptors Bill Prokopiof and Doug Hyde.
His work has been exhibited internationally at institutions including the Musée de Peinture de Saint-Frajou in France; Coos Art Museum in Oregon; Royal Scottish Academy of Art in Scotland; Cape Cod Museum in Massachusetts; Yellowstone Art Museum in Montana; Booth Western Art Museum in Georgia; the National Sculpture Society in New York; and the Royal Academy of London in the United Kingdom.
Prior to its Alpine showing, the exhibition was presented at the Museum of Western Art in Kerrville, Texas, where it concluded Jan. 10, 2026.
