Greg Kelsey Bronze

From the early beginnings of the breed, Longhorns made their mark on the West, they adapted and evolved to eventually foster life in a new frontier as pioneers in a hard, wild land. While seeming to subsist on air and scenery they became America’s original livestock. With strength, vitality and a special nobility they spawned a culture - they called forth a breed of men that shaped the American cowboy and ranch life. They became a part of our Western heritage as they carried the dreams of westward expansion in to a new era. This magnificent and tenacious breed is a living symbol of the Old West and the bedrock on which American frontier history was made.

“Drinkin’ With The Ladies” features five longhorns at the waters edge, one bull and his four ladies. They have waded in to enjoy a leisurely, cool, refreshing respite from the scorching Texas heat. Mr. Kelsey chose to depict these five head with the grace and pride their breed carries. His enchantment with longhorns stems from growing up around, working and observing their unusual habits and wild tendencies. He enjoys creating bronze sculpture that marks their influence on our history and gives a timeless tribute to a unique animal. Signed in the bronze: "Gregory M. Kelsey 25/25 2003". The bronze is mounted on marble and wood. "Drinkin' With The Ladies" won the Silver Medal Award at the 2003 Bosque Art Competition in Clifton, TX for Mr. Kelsey. All 25 of these pieces are now in collections and are no longer available through galleries or the artist directly. This bronze was acquired in 2004 through a Montana gallery.

Raised in both Oklahoma and Texas, Greg Kelsey sculptures reflect his long involvement with 'cowboy life' and his love of western history.

Mr. Kelsey has spent most of his life nurturing two inherent interests: art and ranching. He grew up in an art family with his mother being a high school art teacher. He also worked his grandfather’s registered longhorn herd and fostered a love for western traditions and cowboy living. Now his sculptures reflect his long involvement with ‘cowboy life’ and his love of art. During the heavy winter of ’95 Greg once again found himself feeding cows in three feet of snow while working as a ranch hand in Southwestern Colorado waiting for the summer rodeo season. It wasn’t too hard for his mother to convince him to head back to college. His artistic calling was brought to the fore while taking the only sculpture class offered. The first day, he knew he had found his medium and knew what he was meant to do with the rest of his life. After finishing the semester with no other sculpting classes to take, he plunged right into sculpting on his own. Over the next several years he sought the advice and critique of sculpting masters while cultivating his own art career.

Being mostly self taught, sculpture has been a continual journey of growth for Greg. For him each sculpture presents a special set of problems. Finding the perfect solutions is the key to artistic growth and good sculpture. “That’s the hard and easy part of it,” he explains, “In every action there are simple, artful lines that occur naturally. An artist should find those lines and put them to use to help him create the overall shape and movement of the piece – put the art in it. The challenge is to bring the action across, in harmony with those lines, and let the piece live.”

These days Greg keeps his own small herd of longhorns and a few head of horses. Though he keeps a busy daily work schedule in the studio, he makes time to crawl on the back of a horse to re-gain a little inspiration and peace of mind. As Greg figures it one feeds the other - any time in the studio or time with his stock is time well spent. His western themes stem from his own life. “Whether it’s buckin’ horses, ropin’, pushin’ cows or whatever, that’s where I get my inspiration for art and for everyday decisions. That’s the current, right there. You get out of the current and all those ideas and abilities seem to pass you by. Get back in the saddle; and its all there again.”

Of his art, Kelsey states, “I believe you should paint or sculpt what you know and love. For me, the story of the western life is worth being told in an authentic way. When you live it, you can show a perspective that’s not always seen from afar.” He feels that being able to use his talent every day is a blessing, “There’s a real connection with the Creator when you live the dream".

Awards and Exhibitions:

Mr. Kelsey won the Artists' Choice Award in March 2001. In May 2001 Greg was awarded Best of Show - Sculpture with "Playing to the Wind" at the National Western Art Show & Auction in Ellensburg, Washington and the Artist Roundup Award for the best new artist in attendance.

December 2002 brought the First Place Sculpture award at the NFR (National Finals Rodeo) Open Art Show hosted by the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Artists Association in Las Vegas, Nevada with "My Own Buckin' Business".

In January of 2003, Greg won the Best Sculpture Award at the Night of the Artists in San Antonio, Texas. The Art Sale and Gala was hosted by The National Center for American Western Art. September of 2003 brought the Silver Medal Award at the Bosque Art Competition in Clifton, TX for this sculpture- "Drinkin' with the Ladies".

Of his art, Kelsey comments, "As soon as I stuck my hands in the clay for the first time, it was like somebody pushed the accelerator to the floorboard -- it was an immediate love." He continues to sculpt with that first love intensity. His goal is to create sculpture that captivates viewers.

In 2006, Greg Kelsey was awarded the Gold Medal Sculpture Award and the Peoples' Choice Award at the Bosque Art Competition. Most recently, in 2007, Greg won the People's Choice Award at the CM Russell Art Auction. That piece now makes it's home in the permanent collection of the Charlie Russell Museum.

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