Gary Artzt (Texas, 1935-2001), "Creek Crossing", oil on canvas, signed and dated lower right, 1997

sight: 20 x 24 in., frame: 31 x 35 in.

Provenance: Property from a Florissant, Colorado collection

Gary Artzt earned his art degree from Sul Ross University in Alpine, Texas, but his experiences as an avid hunter and fisherman also informed his later work as a Western and wildlife artist. His professional career combined fine art with commercial and illustrative work: he designed exhibits for major corporations at trade shows around the world, created advertising art for former Dallas mayor Wes Wise, and produced artwork featured on the covers of several prominent outdoor magazines. Artzt is perhaps best known for his Western and wildlife imagery, reflecting his firsthand knowledge of the Texas outdoors and a strong connection to the region's ranching heritage. He was also one of only three sketch artists permitted to document the famous Jack Ruby trial, with his courtroom sketches and related materials now held in the collection of the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza.