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