Painting the West
The stories held in dust, light, and land
This new collection from Rick Kennington explores the people, animals, and open spaces that define the Western landscape. Rooted in a deep connection to ranch life, this body of work invites viewers into a world shaped by hard work and simple moments. The result is a collection that feels grounded, honest, and full of stories worth remembering.
This September, Cassens Fine Art is honored to present "Painting the West," a solo exhibition by Utah-based artist Rick Kennington. Known for his steady hand and respect for Western tradition, Kennington brings a completely new body of work that reflects real places, people, and the strength needed for life on the range. This exhibition will feature horses, ranchers, and riders all throughout the open country. Some are in motion, some paused, but each displayed with a sense of dignity and a story to tell.
Learning by Living
“These paintings come from someone who knows the rhythm of this life,” says gallery owner Michelle Cassens. “Rick grew up on a ranch, and it shows. There’s honesty in the way he paints the land, and in the way he paints the people who live with it.”
Kennington was raised in Utah and spent much of his youth on his grandfather’s working ranch in Wyoming. He later studied Fine Art at the University of Utah and continued to refine his craft through years of dedicated painting, study, and time spent outdoors. While his subjects include cowboys, Native riders, and moments at the edge of day, his work is unified by the values it reflects: hard work, grit, and loyalty.
The collection features scenes from across Montana and the West, each one rooted in lived experiences. Some are soft and nostalgic, others hold the tension of a life shaped by terrain and weather. “Rick doesn’t paint clichés,” Michelle notes. “He paints real moments. You can feel the wind, the dust, the heat. It’s all there.”
Narratives from Open Country
Montana Range
24 x 32 in | Oil on Panel
Among the works in the exhibition, "Montana Range" stands as a mighty centerpiece. In this large-scale oil, two cowboys move through open country as the last light of day stretches long shadows across the land. “That fading light in the sky is something special,” Michelle says. “It’s not dramatic just for drama’s sake. It’s respectful.”
Words from home
11 x 14 in | Oil on Panel
"Words From Home" shows a sweet moment of a cowboy seated on the ground, letter in hand, reading beneath a wide Montana sky. His horse stands beside him, steady and strong. The painting blends the life of a cowboy on the road with the nostalgia of words from home. Each one can be viewed with a clear sense of place. Rick describes it as “a reflective moment amidst the rugged life of the range.”
Battle Prize
30 x 40 in | Oil on Panel
In "Battle Prize," Rick shifts his focus to a Native warrior of the 1800s, riding alongside a newly captured horse. The piece is filled with motion and emotion, honoring the danger, pride, and deep connection between horse and rider. “There’s a strength in this painting that goes beyond the surface,” Michelle says. “You feel the history in it. The confrontation, but also the care.”
Together, along with the rest of the upcoming show, these works create a chorus of stories from life in the West. Some are imagined, many are remembered. Each one holds the marks of Kennington's hand and the sensibility of someone who still sees value in work done slowly, passionately, and with care.
What the Night Offers
Cassens Fine Art is proud to present "Painting the West," a collection that reflects the landscapes, animals, and traditions that shaped Rick Kennington’s early years in Utah and Wyoming. His work is grounded in experience, shaped by time on horseback, and connected to the rhythm of ranch life. This show is about presence, memory, and a respect for the people and places of the West. “Horses, cowboys, open range; it’s not a performance in Rick’s work,” says Cassens. “It’s lived-in. These new works carry the stories of experience, knowledge, and history in some of the most beautiful ways.”
"Painting the West" is a reflection on strength and the values that last. Each piece invites the viewer to look closely and find meaning in the spaces that shaped a way of life.
JOIN US FOR THE EXHIBITION
The opening reception for "Painting the West" will be held on FRIDAY, SEPT. 19, FROM 5-7 PM. The exhibition will be on view through early October. We hope you’ll join us to meet the artist and experience the work in person.