Cynthia Rigden

Cynthia Rigden grew up surrounded by horses and cattle on an 8,000- acre ranch that has been in her family since 1902. In a profile in Equine Images, 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 and paintings of horses, Rigden is also known for her works of Longhorn cattle. "I don't remember ever wanting to be anything but an artist," she said. She has been profiled in Southwest Art, Arizona Highways, Farm and Ranch Living, Contemporary Western Artists, and The Texas Cowboy. She was among women featured in Barbara Van Cleve's book, Hard Twist ~ Western Ranch Women.