Introduction By: Laurenz Busch
By: Sabina Dana Plasse
Art often begins with simply paying attention. It might be a Grizzly’s gaze or the history held in a rusted object. Whatever the subject, the west gives artists plenty to work with, from wild animals and wide-open spaces to weathered objects and stories tucked into everyday things. In this section, we visit three galleries and meet the people behind them, each offering a fresh perspective on familiar subjects. AT COURTNEY COLLINS FINE ART IN BIG SKY, GEORGE HILL PAINTS GRIZZLIES, WOLVES, AND BISON AT A SCALE ONCE RESERVED FOR KINGS AND QUEENS, GRANTING THE WEST’S APEX PREDATORS THE GRAVITY OF ROYAL PORTRAITURE.
A BOLD WEST
Gallery Wild offers a bold, contemporary vision of the West from its downtown Jackson Hole location across from the historic Wort Hotel. Its collection celebrates wildlife, wild places, and the American West through works by established and emerging artists in oil, acrylic, bronze, mixed media, and photography.
Founded by Carrie Wild, the artist-owned and -operated space is part gallery and part working studio, allowing Wild and visiting artists to create in view of collectors, share their processes, and speak directly with visitors. More than a spot to experience art, Gallery Wild is a gathering place for Jackson’s creative community—one built around connection, conversation, and a shared passion for creativity for the surrounding landscape.
WILDLIFE, EXPERIMENTATION, & CONSERVATION CONVERGE AT AN ARTIST-OWNED JACKSON HOLE GALLERY, CARRIE WILD AND THE ARTISTS SHE REPRESENTS BRING COLOR, EXPERIMENTATION, AND A CONTEMPORARY SPIRIT TO WESTERN WILDLIFE ART.
-Rendezvous In Color Twenty Five.0 & A Fox | Acrylic & Gold Leaf | 36″ x 36″
Wild’s Rendezvous series is among her defining bodies of work. Inspired by the complex dynamics of animal herds, the paintings explore connection, rhythm, and communication—where proximity, hierarchy, and shared awareness shape both the group and the distinct identity of each figure. Simplified forms distill bison, foxes, horses, and bears to their essential character while preserving a distinct emotional presence. Fleeting moments of convergence and separation invite reflection on community, coexistence, and belonging.
Her newest works retain the series’ signature repetition while introducing larger brushstrokes, richer texture, and vivid color in a range of scales. The effect is immersive.
“When I watch someone observe one of my larger, vibrant pieces, the color from the painting reflects onto them, and you can see it on that person’s face; a smile forms. It’s a connection,” she says. “It’s as if the painting is reaching for them and their soul is reaching for the painting. It’s an interaction you can see that is so satisfying.”
Wild spends countless hours developing her ideas and drawing animals she has observed throughout the West’s seasons. She also draws from childhood memories of living and working with horses, when she established an early understanding of the visceral bond that can form though close interaction with her subjects. She says viewers often recognize familiar personalities in her subjects, finding reflections of themselves or people they know.
“HE PAINTS THEM IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOU STOP AND LOOK AT THEM AND WONDER, ‘HOW CAN IT BE THAT AN ANIMAL IS SO BEAUTIFUL?’ YOU WONDER, ‘DO THEY TRULY EXIST?'”
-Rendezvous In Color Twenty Four.0 & A Fox | Acrylic & Gold Leaf | 36″ x 36″
In her monochromatic Rendezvous series, Wild uses charcoal lines and a light black wash, preserving the sketch-like quality that first resonated with collectors. For Rendezvous in Color, she builds abstract backgrounds from playful marks made with paints and sprays. Vibrant color within the figures evokes the atmosphere, landscape, and openness of the West.
As a working artist, Wild understands the craft, fieldwork, and business needs of fellow artists, including her own. That experience gives her a distinctive perspective as both artist and gallery owner.
“I WANTED TO CREATE A GALLERY SPACE THAT WAS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WAS BEING OFFERED.”
Gallery Wild is also shaped by Wild’s mission to stay deeply connected to nature, and curation often focuses on artists who spend countless hours observing wildlife and open spaces first-hand, giving the work authentic roots in nature. Following her own philosophy, Wild spends many hours in the field, especially in the northern region of Yellowstone National Park, to find the moments and inspiration for her work.
With a modern and fresh take on wildlife art, rather than relying strictly on conventional or hyper-rustic cabin art, Gallery Wild embraces contemporary, mixed-media, modernist, and experimental approaches. Wild’s focus also includes promoting conservation through enjoyment of the western landscape, culture, and wildlife, uniting a community of artists whose shared mission is to use fine art to inspire collectors, and actively support the preservation of wild places and wildlife.
–Rendezvous Equine Twenty Four.2 | Acrylic & Gold Leaf | 40″ x 40″
“When an artist pushes the boundaries, their work grows, becoming unique and extraordinary,” Wild says. “It’s often the result of the convergence of many ideas, of which only a few come to fruition.”
Having contributed to the Arts Council of Big Sky’s Annual Auction for the Arts for several years, Wild’s work has cemented its place in the region, along with the work of several Gallery Wild artists. The nonprofit provides cultural experiences to residents and visitors through music, film, theater, workshops, and educational programs for people of all ages.
“I ALSO WANTED TO GIVE VISITORS WHO NEVER KNEW THEY’D LIKE WESTERN ART THE CHANCE TO DISCOVER WORK THEY COULD CONNECT WITH AND ENJOY, NO MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE.”
“Supporting arts in the Big Sky community is providing access to many,” says Wild. “Access to and understanding of art contribute to the value of life and help us slow down to enjoy the special, less obvious parts about it.”
She adds, “Collectors are always commenting to me about how much they enjoy original art and how it brightens their lives and even inspires them to have a better day.”
Since opening in 2018, Gallery Wild has expanded its downtown Jackson Hole location on West Broadway. In 2025, Wild added a shipping room and additional gallery space to give her artists even greater visibility.
“I wanted to create a gallery space that was different than what was being offered—something more contemporary, light, and inviting, that would translate the West through an artist’s interpretation,” she says. “I also wanted to give visitors who never knew they’d like Western art the chance to discover work they could connect with and enjoy, no matter where they live.”
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