The West of the Imagination

For many people, “western art” immediately conjures images by Frederic Remington or Georgia O’Keeffe—but there’s so much more. From early explorers’ first sketches of the Rockies to the modern earth sculptures of Michael Heizer, images of the American West are as multifaceted as its cultures. This remarkable book embraces them all.

A landmark overview of western American art, the original edition of The West of the Imagination brought the region to wide public attention as a companion to a popular PBS series of the same name. This book, significantly expanded and updated, shows that the West is a vibrant mirror of American cultural diversity. Through 450 illustrations—more than 300 in color—the authors trace the visual evolution of the myth of the American West, from unknown frontier to repository of American values, covering popular and high arts alike.

An unrivaled survey, The West of the Imagination is an immensely informative and pleasurable volume for anyone with an interest in the region’s creative legacy.