Gary Ernest Smith (American, 1942)
Modern Cowboy, 2012
Oil on canvas
30 × 20 in.
Frame: 36¾ × 26¾ in.
Signed lower right: “Gary Ernest Smith”; signed, titled, and dated verso
In Modern Cowboy, Gary Ernest Smith presents a contemporary figure rooted in tradition yet unmistakably of the present. Standing confidently against a warm, atmospheric ground, the cowboy’s relaxed stance and direct gaze convey independence, endurance, and quiet resolve. Smith’s restrained palette and textured brushwork emphasize character over anecdote, elevating the subject from portrait to archetype.
Gary Ernest Smith is widely recognized for his powerful depictions of rural American life. Raised in agricultural communities of Idaho and Utah, Smith has spent decades portraying farmers, ranchers, and laborers with dignity and emotional restraint. His work is celebrated for its symbolic clarity and has been exhibited extensively in galleries and museums throughout the American West.
Provenance
Overland Gallery of Fine Art, Scottsdale, Arizona
