Newzones is pleased to present G’ddy Up!, our annual summer group exhibition celebrating Calgary’s western spirit through a contemporary artistic lens.

Presented in conjunction with the Calgary Stampede, G’ddy Up! brings together works by Kevin Sonmor, Dianne Bos, Evelyne Brader-Frank, Casey McGlynn, and other gallery artists whose work reflects the landscapes, traditions, and visual culture that have shaped the West. Through painting, photography, sculpture, and mixed media, the exhibition explores how artists continue to reinterpret western subjects and imagery in fresh and unexpected ways.

Each July, Calgary embraces a unique transformation as the city welcomes visitors from around the world and celebrates a rich cultural heritage rooted in ranching, rodeo, agriculture, and community. G’ddy Up! draws inspiration from this annual energy, presenting works that embrace both the iconic and the unexpected while offering fresh perspectives on the imagery, traditions, and stories that continue to shape the West. Through painting, photography, sculpture, and mixed media, the exhibition explores contemporary ideas of place, identity, memory, and experience.

From Sonmor’s personal connection to rodeo culture and Bos’ celebrated photographs of carnival and midway life, to Brader-Frank’s striking marble horses and other contemporary interpretations of western themes, the exhibition highlights the many ways artists engage with subjects that remain deeply connected to Calgary and the broader Canadian landscape.

At once playful, reflective, and distinctly contemporary, G’ddy Up! offers a fresh perspective on the imagery and traditions that continue to define Stampede season and life in the modern West.