“My work isn’t western in the sense that it’s cowboys and Indians and shoot em’ ups. Its western in the fact I live here and my animals, my models, are mostly here.”
Cynthia Rigden grew up surrounded by horses and cattle on an 8,000 acre ranch that has been in her family since 1902. Her roots in Arizona and the West are deep. Yet she doesn't call herself a "western artist," rather she is an artist who comes from the West.
In a profile in The Equine Image, she said, "My work isn't western in the sense that it’s cowboys and Indians and shoot em' ups. It’s western in the fact I live here and my animals, my models, are mostly here." In addition to her renowned sculptures of horses, Rigden is also known for her sculptures of Longhorn cattle.
Rigden believes her long association with horses and cattle gives her work an edge. From her daily contacts with the animals, she knows they have distinctive personalities, and with her insight into "horse psychology," Rigden tries to reflect these differences in her art.
She says, "I like to catch the subtle attitude of the horse, but I don't try to romanticize them I believe the gracefulness and the form of the horse speak for themselves. And if I can capture that in my work, then I've captured the essence of horses."
In a 1997 profile in Farm and Ranch Living, she said, "During the course of a typical day, I might see a cow pony or a big old Longhorn doing something that makes me want to capture it in bronze. Of course, just seeing something doesn't mean I can sit right down and sculpt it. I often have to do a lot of research to get the details right. Details are very important. Folks who know horses and cattle will see right away if I get something wrong. So I have a room full of close-up photographs of every part of an animal's anatomy, from its ears to its hooves."
Though she has been interested in painting since childhood - her grandmother's watercolors are still known in the Prescott area - her passion for sculpting waited until college. "I don't remember ever wanting to be anything but an artist," she said. At Arizona State University, the classes she wanted to take were filled, so she took a course in sculpting.
She has been profiled in Southwest Art, Arizona Highways,Contemporary Western Artist, and The Texas Cowboy. She was among women featured in Barbara Van Cleve's book, Hard Twist Western Ranch Women. She was featured in an article in the May/June 2000 issue of the Art of the West.
She has exhibited in the American Women Artist and the West, Loveland Sculpture in the Park, and the Texas Cowboy Artist Awards Show.
We recommend using a computer for the best viewing experience. Click and hover over an image for details.When using a mobile device, we recommend turning the device sideways for the best view and tapping the small dot for image details.
