Welcome to Friends of Western Art
Welcome to Friends of Western Art
Andrew Higdon
Nov 19th: First Tuesday on Third Thursday with Andrew Higdon
Winner of the 2025 Wieghorst Award for Best in Show
Join FWA for the Art Show preview: buffet dinner, presentation, coffee/tea and light desserts at the Mountain Oyster Club. Libations are available for purchase.
Nov 19th, 2026
Mountain Oyster Club
Doors open at 5:00 p.m.
Dale Terbush
Dec 1st:
First Tuesday
with Dale Terbush
Landscape Artist
Join FWA for First Tuesday with Featured Lecturer Dale Terbush, acclaimed American self-taught landscape artist known for his luminous, highly spiritual and dramatic depictions of Southwestern deserts, mountain ranges, waterfalls and twilight skies.
Dec 1st, 2026
Mountain Oyster Club
Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Andrew Higdon
Nov 19th: First Tuesday on Third Thursday with Andrew Higdon
Winner of the 2025 Wieghorst Award for Best in Show
Join FWA for the Art Show preview: buffet dinner, presentation, coffee/tea and light desserts at the Mountain Oyster Club. Libations are available for purchase.
Nov 19th, 2026 | Mountain Oyster Club | Doors open at 5:00 p.m.
Dale Terbush
Dec 1st: First Tuesday with Dale Terbush
Landscape Artist
Join FWA for First Tuesday with Featured Lecturer Dale Terbush, acclaimed American self-taught landscape artist known for his luminous, highly spiritual and dramatic depictions of Southwestern deserts, mountain ranges, waterfalls and twilight skies.
Dec 1st, 2026 | Mountain Oyster Club | Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
SAVE THE DATE!
Our Annual BBQ at the Casitas at Smokey Springs will be held on April 17, 2027
Details Coming Soon!
SAVE THE DATE!
Our Annual BBQ at the Casitas at Smokey Springs will be held on April 17, 2027
Details Coming Soon!
Thank You for Another Successful First Tuesdays Season!
Elizabeth Sage
Stephen Datz
Fred & Deborah Fellows
Andrew Denman
Rachel Brownlee
Guy Combes
Sam Patania
Scott & Christine Logan
William Hook
Mark Bahti
Bill Nebeker
Susan Kliewer
Ken Rowe
Shawn Cameron
George Lundeen
Another First Tuesdays season has come and gone, thank you for making each and every one an exciting and fun-filled event.
Be sure to visit our Upcoming Events Page for our 2025-2026 First Tuesdays schedule and upcoming FWA events.
You can catch all of our our previously-filmed lectures on FWA’s YouTube channel.
Thank You for Another Successful First Tuesdays Season!
Elizabeth Sage
Stephen Datz
Fred & Deborah Fellows
Andrew Denman
Rachel Brownlee
Guy Combes
Sam Patania
Scott & Christine Logan
William Hook
Mark Bahti
Bill Nebeker
Susan Kliewer
Ken Rowe
Shawn Cameron
George Lundeen
Howard Post
Buck McCain
Christine Logan
Carolyn O'Bagy Davis
Chuck Albanese
John Fawcett
Mark Sublette
Another First Tuesdays season has come and gone, thank you for making each and every one an exciting and fun-filled event.
Be sure to visit our Upcoming Events Page for our 2025-2026 First Tuesdays schedule and upcoming FWA events.
You can catch all of our our previously-filmed lectures on FWA’s YouTube channel.
TFOB/ FWA's "Aline Goodman Young Artist Awards" March 14, 2026
The FWA “Aline Goodman Young Artist Awards” ceremony was held on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 10am at the Tucson Festival of Books Main Stage at the University of Arizona.
For more info and a closer look at this year’s student award-winning entries CLICK HERE
Our History
In 1981, a group of Tucsonans, who shared an excitement about the depth and diversity of the Art of the American West, formed Friends of Western Art (FWA), a non-profit organization. In the 44 years since its inception, FWA has sponsored a legacy of artists and events that has enriched…
How to Get Involved
We are a focused, energetic and fun group. Members enjoy the camaraderie of fellow FWA members in a variety of activities that promote Western Art. There are trips to museums, art auctions, educational programs, monthly dinners and our annual Western BBQ…
Community Contributions
Over the past 22 years, FWA has raised and donated over $758,000 to support our mission.
Major categories of funding include…
Our History
In 1981, a group of Tucsonans, who shared an excitement about the depth and diversity of the Art of the American West, formed Friends of Western Art (FWA), a non-profit organization. In the 44 years since its inception, FWA has sponsored a legacy of artists and events that has enriched…
How to Get Involved
We are a focused, energetic and fun group. Members enjoy the camaraderie of fellow FWA members in a variety of activities that promote Western Art. There are trips to museums, art auctions, educational programs, monthly dinners and our annual Western BBQ…
Community Contributions
Over the past 22 years, FWA has raised and donated over $758,000 to support our mission.
Major categories of funding include…
First Tuesdays
On the first Tuesday of most months, join us for a fun and entertaining evening with a well-known western artist! Artists and artisans typically share insights…
Special Events
Yearly events include BBQ Fundraiser, participation at the Tucson Festival of Books with the Aline Goodman Young Artist Awards, and our joint art exhibit with The Amerind...
Amerind & FWA Partnership
Since our funding assistance with Amerind Museum’s Fulton-Hayden Memorial Art Gallery revitalization project, FWA has partnered with Amerind to curate and sponsor 10 exhibitions in Amerind’s Friends of Western Art Gallery.
These exhibitions are a joint venture between the Amerind Museum and Friends of Western Art. In each of these exhibitions, several members of the Friends have shared favorite works from their private collections for all of us to enjoy.
The exhibits are usually on display from December to May annually. The upcoming 2024/2025 exhibit theme and dates will be announced shortly.
Become a Part of Our Family
FWA’s programs change, but the theme remains the same. Western Art is a journey that describes art through time. As a member, you will help shape and influence the contemporary rendition of Western Art for future generations. We hope you will consider joining and be a part of the future of Western Art.
I want to sincerely thank you for your support of the Santa Cruz County 4H Fine Arts Program. In a day and age where art is being taken out of public school curriculum... it is a huge blessing for children to be able to find an outlet for their creativity...
Denise Purvis
4H Fine Arts Project LeaderAn artist friend informed me of Friends of Western Art. They believed in the fact that our youth need art in their lives. The support that I have received made the difference in the lives of the local youth. the greatest gift a teacher can get is when the light of comprehension comes on in a young persons life...
Elizabeth Shuler-Pointer
Founder and Director - Elfrida Art CenterSince the Altar Valley School District art program was first launched following the generous donation from Friends of Western Art, our students have shown significant growth. Not only have they developed art-based skills and knowledge, but have expanded their ability to think creatively and willingness to take steps outside of their comfort zones...
Dr. David Dumon
SuperintendentI am writing to express my sincere gratitude for the Friends of Western Art's support throughout the start of my academic career. It is through the scholarships awarded to me by FWA that I was able to attend university without the additional weight of undertaking significant amounts of student loans. In 2009, when I was a senior attending Ironwood Ridge High School, I was awarded a scholarship for an oil painting I created of my late Grandpa.....Read More
Rachel Childers
Postgraduate Fellow in the Conservation of Paintings at Stuchting Restauratie-Atelier Limburg, Maastricht, Nederlands