Cody Yellowstone Is a Wild West Canvas for Art Lovers

It doesn’t matter if you’re wearing a beret in Paris or a cowboy hat in northwest Wyoming, authentic artistry happens with inspiration. Here in Cody Yellowstone, inspiration doesn’t just hang on gallery walls — it roams wide-open spaces, rides in with the rodeo, and echoes in the footsteps of intrepid adventurers.

This town may be small in size, but our creative spirit rides tall in the saddle. Cody’s art scene draws from the land, the legends, and the lifestyle of the American West — and it’s been turning heads for over a century.

Between the museums, annual art events, a gallery devoted to creations using local materials, various galleries downtown, and a co-op featuring the works of more than 200 local creators, Cody Yellowstone has been lauded by USA Today readers as a Top Small Town Arts Scene and a Top Art Town by Travel + Leisure. Additionally, the Whitney Western Art Museum was named the Best Art Museum in the U.S. by Newsweek.

And speaking of the Whitney, that’s where our story kicks off.

Where the West First Met Fine Art

It all began with The Scout — a towering bronze sculpture of Buffalo Bill Cody on horseback, commissioned by New York heiress and sculptor Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney. That single piece sparked the creation of what is now the Whitney Western Art Museum, one of the five fantastic museums located at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Since the Whitney’s founding in 1959, the museum has become a sanctuary of Western storytelling, featuring works by artists such as Charlie Russell, Frederic Remington, Thomas Moran, and Albert Bierstadt.

Rendezvous Royale and Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale

The biggest art event of the year is the Rendezvous Royale, a celebration of fine art interpreting the land, people, and wildlife of the American West. Scheduled this year for Sept. 15 – 20, 2025, the multi-day event includes an auction of contemporary Western art, a Quick Draw event, educational seminars, and studio tours. The celebration is capped by the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, a massive fine art sale showcasing stylistic interpretations of the American West, and the elegant Patron’s Ball. 

By Western Hands Museum & Gallery

Western style isn’t just a look — it’s a legacy. At By Western Hands, you’ll find heirloom furniture, sculpture, and design created with the same rustic elegance made famous by Thomas Molesworth’s Shoshone Furniture Company. Local materials such as gnarled pine, juniper, antlers, and leather abound in this gallery.

Cody Country Arts League & Open Range Images

Tucked inside Cody’s original Buffalo Bill Museum building, Cody Arts showcases over 200 local creators working in pottery, jewelry, photography, mosaics, and more. Just down the street, Open Range Images captures the wild beauty of Yellowstone country through the lenses of 13 local photographers.

Vic Payne Studio & Plaza Diane: Expanding the Creative Frontier

In nearby Meeteetse, the Vic Payne Studio & Gallery honors both art and history inside the restored Meeteetse Mercantile building. Meanwhile, Plaza Diane in Powell blends gallery space, classes, and festive events like Oktoberfest and ChristmasFest in a community-powered center where creativity takes the reins.

Street Art That Tips Its Hat to the Frontier

Cody Yellowstone doesn’t just celebrate art indoors. From colorful murals popping up near the City Brew drive-thru and City Park’s Cody Band Shell to bronze sculptures and hidden artistic gems around every corner, creativity here flows as freely as the Shoshone River.

Don’t miss the life-sized statue of Buffalo Bill relaxing on a bench outside the Irma Hotel — a perfect selfie stop with the West’s most iconic showman.

Family Fun with a Creative Twist: Bears in the Basin

Art meets adventure with Bears in the Basin, a mobile app scavenger hunt inviting kids (and kids at heart) to track down themed bear statues in Cody, Powell, and Meeteetse. “Buffalo Bear Cody” in Cody, “Farmer Growl” in Powell and “Amelia Bearhart” in Meeteetse each highlight what makes each of these communities special while also showcasing the considerable talents of local artist, Tanner Loren.

Curtains Up: Wild West Spectacular & Yellowstone Film Festival

For more than a decade, the award-winning Wild West Spectacular has packed the historic Cody Theater with song, dance, and the thrilling tale of Buffalo Bill’s rise as the world’s greatest showman. And in 2025, the Yellowstone Film Festival made its cinematic debut with 78 films from around the world screening at Big Horn Cinemas — proof that storytelling in Cody is as bold and global as ever.

Come for the Scenery, Stay for the Art

Art is all around you in Cody Yellowstone, from the galleries and museums to the pure wonder of Mother Nature’s paintbrush. A visit to where the West is still being painted, sculpted, and crafted is sure to leave you inspired. 

Ready to start planning your Cody Yellowstone getaway? Let us make it as easy as painting by numbers! Request your free 2025 Cody Yellowstone Adventure Guide today.