Nancy Dunlop Cawdrey stands as a singular innovator in the realm of contemporary Western art, masterfully merging the ancient art of silk painting with the vibrant spirit of the American West. Working with French dyes on crepe de chine silk, she creates luminous works that capture the essence of Western life through a medium as rich in history as the subjects she portrays.
Cawdrey’s artistic vision emerged from a life lived across continents. From her early years in Syria and Germany to her formative studies in Paris, where she immersed herself in Old Master techniques, each experience contributed to her unique artistic perspective. However, it was during her travels to Hawaii that she discovered the transformative potential of silk painting, a medium whose fluidity and luminous qualities perfectly matched her passion for dynamic expression.
The art of silk painting itself carries a legacy spanning over four millennia. Born in ancient China, this sophisticated technique produces works of remarkable archival quality, with ancient silk paintings still retaining their vibrancy after thousands of years. The art form’s journey to the West followed an unexpected path through the Russian royal family, who learned the technique from Chinese scholars before fleeing to Paris in 1917. There, it found new life in the world of haute couture before spreading throughout Europe and beyond.
From her studio near Glacier National Park in Montana, Cawdrey creates commanding works that range from bold tipis and spirited cowgirls to majestic wildlife and radiant florals. Working with crepe de chine silk, chosen for its substantial “tooth” that absorbs dye and reflects intense color, she builds layers of transparent and opaque passages to achieve remarkable depth and vibrancy.
Her mastery of this challenging medium has earned her prestigious recognition across the Western art world. In 2020, she launched her landmark traveling museum exhibition, “Forever Glacier,” featuring twenty-five large-format silk paintings celebrating the Park’s diverse wildlife and landscapes. This extraordinary collection has graced notable institutions including the C.M. Russell Museum, the Booth Western Art Museum, and the Hockaday Museum of Art.
As a founding member of the Russell Skull Society of Artists, Cawdrey’s work regularly appears in elite venues such as the Briscoe Western Art Museum’s “Night of Artists,” the Coors Western Art Show, and the National Museum of Wildlife Art’s Western Visions. Her achievements include being named Featured Artist at the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival and receiving multiple “People’s Choice” awards at the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale. In 2010, she received the distinguished honor of becoming an Official Glacier Park Centennial Artist.
Each of Cawdrey’s pieces is carefully preserved using archival techniques, mounted on acid-free board, and protected by museum-quality ultraviolet-blocking glass, ensuring these contemporary treasures will endure for generations, much like their ancient Chinese predecessors.
Through her unique fusion of Eastern technique and Western themes, Nancy Dunlop Cawdrey continues to push the boundaries of contemporary Western art. Her masterworks, found in permanent collections worldwide, stand as testimony to the enduring power of innovation in traditional art forms. Each piece captures not just the visual splendor of the American West, but its untamed spirit and endless capacity for reinvention.
