Welcome to DAVID WRIGHT ART
As the premier artist of the American frontier, David Wright’s paintings depict historical subjects with deeply researched accuracy and detail. They capture the epic day-to-day struggles of Colonial frontiersmen and longhunters, of settlers and hunters, mountain men and fur traders, Plains and Woodland Indians. The humanity of the Native American as art subject and participant in history reaches the highest level. His Civil War art depicts military leaders and common Confederate foot soldiers during the dark days of the War Between the States. Wright’s paintings of early American hunting scenes, those of the Sporting Art genre, have also been highly acclaimed. Let’s take a look…
MORE ABOUT DAVID WRIGHT
H. DAVID WRIGHT – Artist & Historian
Born in Rosine, Kentucky in 1942 and raised in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, David Wright has always had a close association with the two major subjects of his work; the rural landscape and American history.
Professionally trained as an artist, with study in Europe, Wright has spent his life painting subjects he is most passionate about…landscapes and historical subjects: the American frontier, (the hunters, settlers, soldiers, and American Indians), and the American Civil War.
His career took a two year break in 1964-65 when he was drafted to serve in the US Army, a year of which was spent in Vietnam. In 1973 he joined Gray Stone Press, which publishes limited edition collector prints of his paintings.
Listed in Who’s Who in American Art, Wright was commissioned in 1979 to do six paintings for the bicentennial edition of Nashville: The Face of Two Centuries during the Nashville Century lll celebration. He also created the poster for the Fine Arts Pavilion at the 1982 World’s Fair held in Knoxville, Tennessee. His subject – a Frontiersman.
Wright’s paintings have been featured in television documentaries and as covers for numerous books and magazines. As an avid historian, his research has led him to write articles for various publications, as well as contributing chapters in some well-known books on the American frontier.
Venturing into the media world, Wright has appeared on television as an historical consultant. He has also served as Art Director for Native Sun Productions’ high definition films: award winning Daniel Boone and the Westward Movement, Refuge in the Wilderness, and the History Channel’s 80 Acres of Hell and First Invasion – The War of 1812 for which he was nominated for a Prime Time Emmy.
Wright was commissioned to do a major painting for Cumberland Gap National Historical Park entitled “Gateway to the West – Daniel Boone Leading The Settlers Through The Cumberland Gap, 1775”. This painting has been made into a breathtaking wall-size mural and is on display at the Cumberland Gap Visitors Center.
He has received the prestigious Harrison Eiteljorg Purchase Award at the Eiteljorg Museum Quest For The West Show for his painting titled “Uninvited Visitors” which now is included in the museum’s permanent collection.
His internationally known works hang in numerous private collections, as well as the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, GA; Tennessee State Museum in Nashville, TN; Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in Indianapolis, IN: Sam Davis Historic Home Museum in Smyrna, TN; Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, and Historic Martin’s Station at Wilderness Road State Park, Ewing, Virginia.
In 2019, he was honored with a retrospective show of his work at the Eiteljorg Museum and in 2022 he was honored with the Booth Western Art Museum American Artist of Excellence award.
David Wright and his wife, Jane reside outside Gallatin, Tennessee in a beautiful 18th century style house situated over the ever-running falls of historic Asher’s Creek, across from the ruins of an old gristmill.
David Wright Retrospective Show - Booth Western Art Museum
The Art of David Wright: Historian with a Brush
November 16, 2024 – April 13, 2025
First of all, allow me to say that for the great Booth Western Art Museum to honor me with such an event – is more than I can adequately express. The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art held such an exhibit for me in 2019 and these come rarely in one’s life, so I am indeed honored.
My thanks to all the folks who have relinquished their paintings and art for my exhibition. In addition to my paintings hanging on the walls, which is normally what is shown, this time the museum has added additional items that I have included in my works. — The kepi that General Cleburne is wearing in my painting “Cleburne” is the one he wore the day he was killed at the Battle of Franklin, TN in 1864. The Tennessee State Museum is loaning the painting and the kepi. Also, noted Hawken rifles and other outstanding firearms shown in the three paintings I did for Jim Stokes are included in the exhibit. Also the noted Moses Walcutt powder horn in Jim & Carolyn Dresslar’s painting, was loaned by Tom Grinslade. All these generous donations make the show even better than just the paintings, and I can’t thank enough all those who have given up their works to share with us.
FROM THE BOOTH WESTERN ART MUSEUM , CARTERSVILLE, GA
I hope you were able to join us for the opening of this landmark retrospective exhibition featuring 30 of David’s greatest works from his 62-year career.
Opening events on November 16 included:
- A symposium on the life and times of the Mountain Men, featuring some of the top historians and fur trade reenactors in the country which included:
- Clint Gilchrist, Executive Director of the Museum of the Mountain Man in Pinedale, WY.
- Jim Hardee, author and director of the Fur Trade Research Center since 1998.
- Jay Buckley, author and Associate Professor of History at Brigham Young University.
- Dr. Scott (Doc Ivory) Olsen, author of fur trade handbooks and articles on the fur trade.
- Richard Ashburn, a seasoned back-country horse guide who has ridden thousands of miles across the west and has been involved in many Western fur trade film projects.
- Dr. Richard Patton, an animal nutrition consultant. His love of the West and horses led him to participate in many rides in the mountains and the writing of articles about the American fur trade.
- An opening reception and talk by David Wright summarizing the highlights of his storied career.
David Wright has spent the last 62 years painting the subjects he is most passionate about, episodes in history between the late 1700s and the mid-1800s.
If you missed the opening you can still catch this great exhibit until April 13, 2025.