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The Arts Intel Report

A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler
A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler

Cowboy

Untitled (ARAB 0024), by Akasha Rabut.

Until Feb 18, 2024
1485 Delgany St, Denver, CO 80202, USA

For some, the word “cowboy” evokes an image of a gun-toting and heroic John Wayne figure, riding to the rescue on a beautiful horse, fighting bandits and saving women. For others, the image is one of lonely men in harsh environments, fixing fences and driving cattle. A new exhibition at the MCA Denver challenges these static and hyper-masculinized definitions, offering instead a more inclusive and nuanced representation of America’s real-life cowboys. Paintings, photographs, and video installations from 27 artists provide glimpses into the lives of contemporary “cowboys,” spotlighting a diversity of race, gender, and sexuality. —Paulina Prosnitz

Photo courtesy of the artist