Saddles with hand-carved mahogany bison. Silver bits polished to a mirror shine. Hackamores woven strand by strand from rawhide. These aren't ranch tools gathering dust in a barn — they're the centerpiece of an exhibition and sale running through Oct. 18, 2026, at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, where collectors can buy them purely as art.
A Decades-Old Partnership Rooted in Craft
The Traditional Cowboy Arts Association is holding its annual exhibition and sale at the museum, according to News 9, featuring one-of-a-kind work from leading Western artisans. The show runs from Sept. 12 through Oct. 18, 2026, per the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association, which lists saddlemaking, bit and spur making, silversmithing and rawhide braiding among the disciplines on display. The association was established nearly 30 years ago to set a standard for metalwork, leatherwork and rawhide braiding, according to KFOR.
This year's lineup includes 14 active members and four emeritus members, the association notes. Two names are new to the sale floor: saddlemaker Marco Breitenbach and bit and spur maker Amy Erickson, both invited as recent recipients of the TCAA's fellowship program, which pairs a novice craftsperson with an established TCAA artist for a year of mentorship, per the same source.
Mentorship at the Center of the Mission
The museum's Seth Spillman said the partnership supports artists working to preserve traditional cowboy arts, according to News 9. The TCAA describes its mission as preserving the living craftsmanship and cultural heritage of the North American West — supporting master artisans, mentoring emerging makers and ensuring these rare traditions continue for future generations, the association states. The group also offers cash scholarships to a select number of up-and-coming traditional artists, according to the Oklahoman.
Visitors walking the floor have found pieces that blur the line between tool and sculpture. One Troy West saddle, which he called “The Thunderbeast,” features a hand-carved mahogany bison near the fork, KFOR reported. Rawhide braider Jay Adcock of Pawhuska spends long hours weaving thin strands into quirts and hackamores, the station noted, adding that collectors might purchase these items purely for decoration rather than actual ranch use.
A History of Big-Money Sales
The exhibition has drawn serious money from collectors before. During the 21st annual sale in 2019, more than 150 people attended the opening weekend at the museum, generating sales exceeding $275,000, according to the Oklahoman. The top seller that year was a tooled saddle by Cary Schwarz of Salmon, Idaho, which sold for $35,450, while a silver bit by Wilson Capron of Christoval, Texas, rounded out the top three at $27,500.
More recently, the 2025 exhibition — described by the Journal Record as the 26th annual Traditional Cowboy Arts Association Exhibition & Sale — featured 15 master craftsmen showcasing more than 50 original works between Sept. 12 and Oct. 12. The museum has presented the TCAA partnership as an ongoing annual event, part of a tradition that continues with this year's show.
Halloween Event Follows the Exhibit's Close
Once the exhibition wraps, the museum turns its attention to families. The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum will hold its Hallowest Halloween event on Oct. 22, 2026, per News 9, with museum members and children under 12 receiving free admission.
