Artists Prepare for "Wild Women" Exhibition in Southern Utah
Eight acclaimed artists are bringing their work to the Thunderbird Foundation for the Arts in Mt. Carmel, Utah. The exhibition, titled "Big Skies and Desert Blooms – Wild Women Ride Again," runs from September 11 through October 16, 2026. This show features a diverse collection of contemporary landscape, Western, wildlife, still life, and figurative works. The group includes Suzie Baker, Cindy Baron, Shanna Kunz, Kim Lordier, Stephanie Marzella, Lori McNee, Elizabeth Robbins, and Romona Youngquist.
An opening reception takes place September 11 at the historic Maynard Dixon property from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The venue serves as both a gallery and a piece of artistic history, having been home to Maynard Dixon and his wife, Edith Hamlin Dixon. The Thunderbird Foundation now maintains the 48-acre site to host exhibitions, workshops, and educational tours. Founder Susan Bigham stated the foundation prioritizes professional artists with established national profiles who demonstrate exceptional technical proficiency.
Origins of the "Wild Women" Collective
Lori McNee, who serves as the group’s liaison, explained that the collective started by chance. Shanna Kunz invited friends on a camping trip to paint outdoors in Idaho several years ago. The trip sparked a lasting connection rooted in a shared love for the outdoors and common life stages. McNee notes that while the artists bring different styles to the canvas, their shared dedication to the craft creates a cohesive vision. The artists have built their careers while balancing family responsibilities, a reality that demands significant discipline and business expertise.
Following their first successful exhibition in Philipsburg, Montana, in September 2025, the group gained momentum. Galleries across the West began requesting their work, leading to this current partnership with the Thunderbird Foundation. The name of the group is a nod to their connection with wild landscapes, though McNee admits it carries a playful tone regarding the spirit of the members themselves. The exhibit aims to show that Western art remains a living, evolving practice rather than a static historical record.
Perspectives from Utah Painters
Two of the featured artists, Shanna Kunz and Elizabeth Robbins, are based in Ogden, Utah. Kunz grew up in a U.S. Forest Service family, which instilled a deep respect for public lands. She prefers to paint in a way that evokes the mood of a place rather than documenting a specific landmark. She hopes her work triggers personal memories for viewers. Kunz has spent years painting across Southern Utah, with frequent trips to areas such as Zion, Mt. Carmel, and Canyonlands to capture the changing light and atmosphere of the desert.
Elizabeth Robbins brings a different focus to the exhibit. Raised in the Wasatch Mountains, she developed an early fascination with wildflowers, taught to her by her grandmother. She grows many of the flowers she depicts in her studio, including over 100 roses, sunflowers, and peonies. This proximity allows her to study the life cycle of the blooms. Robbins believes there is a deep, quiet power in the short life of a flower. She treats her still life subjects with the same intensity as her portraits, searching for individual character in every piece.
Legacy and Future Impact
Susan Bigham emphasizes that the Thunderbird Foundation acts as more than a gallery space. It provides a unique setting where the history of Maynard Dixon remains tangible. The current exhibition serves the broader mission of the foundation by promoting art that offers meaning and purpose. Visitors can tour the historic home, studio, and grounds to experience the environment that shaped earlier generations of American painters.
Lori McNee invites the public to watch for the artists as they paint in the field around Mt. Carmel, Orderville, and Kanab from September 6 through September 11. The foundation will host a painting demonstration on September 12 at 10 a.m. This event offers a rare look at the process behind the finished canvases. As the exhibition opens, it stands as a reminder of how the Western landscape continues to inspire new generations of artists to interpret the world around them.