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The Arts Intel Report

Cowboy

Untitled (ARAB 0024), by Akasha Rabut.

Sept 29, 2023 – 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