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T.D. Kelsey grew up on a ranch near Bozeman, Montana. He rodeoed for many years in rough stock events and team roping. Following that, T.D. trained and showed his own cutting horses for several years. He worked as a commercial pilot for United Airlines until 1979 when he resigned to devote full time to his art.

 

His interest in, and promotion of, Texas longhorn cattle, maintenance of a wild horse herd on his ranch, passion for Africa and its wildlife, and concern for the conservation of wildlife worldwide have inspired many of his works. An avid traveler, he has visited many countries on every continent except Antarctica, drawing and sculpting people and animals from all corners of the world in addition to his western subjects. He is known for his intense, impressionistic sculptures that capture the spirit of his subjects.

 

Kelsey's work is found in private and public collections worldwide. He is a member emeritus of theCowboy Artists of America, fellow of the National Sculpture Society and was honored with a one-man show at the Thomas Gilcrease Museum where he has work on permanent display. He also has sculptures on permanent display at the Pro Rodeo Hall of Champions Museum, the C.M. Russell Museum, the National Museum of Wildlife Art, The Colorado Historical Museum, The Texas Interpretive Center, the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, the Briscoe Museum, the Old Town Museum in Elk City, OK,Owensboro Museum of Fine Art and two museums in Spain.

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THE ARTIST

T.D. Kelsey

ABOUT

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At a one-man show at the 21 Club of New York City, 22 new works were a virtual sell out opening night. He also received the honor of having one of his sculptures chosen by the National Sculpture Society for the "Masterworks of American Sculpture 1875-1999" show, hosted by the Fleischer Museum in Scottsdale, Arizona.

 

He has placed several monumental pieces both private and public. These include "Texas Gold" located in the historic Stock Yards area of Fort Worth, Texas, "Briargate Mustangs" in Colorado Springs, Colorado, "Royal Challenge" for Cabela's in Sidney, Nebraska, "The Plainsman" for the Denver Buffalo Company in Denver, Colorado, "Change of Seasons" and "Swamp Donkey" at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, Wyoming, "Testing The Air" in Montana, "Daga Boys" at the Saint Louis Zoo in Saint Louis, Missouri, "Swamp Donkey" located at Benson Sculpture Park in Loveland, Colorado, “On The Wind” at the Colorado Historical Museum in Denver, “Crossing the Catclaw’ in Abilene, Texas, “Free Fall” in the new Nancy Draper wing of theBuffalo Bill Historical Center, “High Plains Pair” at Owensboro Museum of Art, and one for the Briscoe Museum on The Riverwalk in San Antonio.

 

T.D. has also received commissions from companies and individuals such as Allen & Company Incorporated, American Express, The Coca-Cola Company, Jean and John Brittingham Park Springs Ranch, Meredith and Tom Brokaw, the Saint Louis Zoo, Mahlon B. Wallace III, and the Dearborn Ranch for both monumental and garden-size pieces.

 

T.D.'s work is available in very limited editions. Both finished castings and works in progress can be seen in the studio-gallery at his working ranch near Guthrie, Texas.

COMMISSIONS

African Professional Hunters Association
Allen & Company Inc.
American Express
Bonnet Plume Outfitters, Calling Lake Alberta
Briscoe Museum
Tom and Meredith Brokaw
Buffalo Bill Historical Center
Cabela's Inc.
Coca-Cola Company
Denver National Western Stock Show, Denver CO
Federation Equestre Internationale, Lausanne Switzerland
Joint Ventures
Joseph B. Fay Company

Mahlon B. Wallace III
Mountains and Plains Texas Longhorn Breeders Association
National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson Hole WY
National Cutting Horse Association
Owensboro Museum, Oklahoma
Park Springs Ranch, Anton Chico NM
Pro Rodeo Hall of Champions, Colorado Springs CO
Red Lodge Angus Ranch, Red Lodge MT
Saint Louis Zoo, St. Louis MO
Sheridan Farmer's Market (formerly Grinnell Plaza), Sheridan WY
State of Wyoming Museum, Douglas WY
Texas Information Center, Abilene TX
Thomas Gilcrease Institute, Tulsa OK

COMMISSIONS

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MONUMENTAL WORK

 

1985: Texas Gold, Texas Longhorn Breeder's Association
1989: Briargate Mustangs, Joint Ventures
1991: Royal Challenge, Cabela's
1992: The Plainsman, Denver Buffalo Company
1994: Change of Seasons, National Museum of Wildlife Art
1996: Swamp Donkey, National Museum of Wildlife Art
1997: Testing The Air, Tom and Meridith Brokaw
1999: Daga Boys, Saint Louis Zoo
2001: Buffalo Jump, Buffalo Bill Historical Center
2002: On The Wind, Texas Information Center

2006: EXT, Tom Siebel

2010: Changin' Camp, Saint Louis Zoo

2010: Three Little Pigs, Saint Louis Zoo
2010: Hitchhikers, Saint Louis Zoo
2011: Royalty, Mahlon B. Wallace III
2011: Line in the Sand R., Bob Fay Jr.
2011: Line in the Sand L., Bob Fay Jr.
2012: Commotion, Elk City, OK
2012: High Plains Pair, Owensboro Museum
2013: Orgulloso, Red Lodge Angus Ranch, Red Lodge MT

2018.  Relaxed Intensity
2018   Healthy Stealthy and Wise Roaring Lion Ranch
2018   Yukon White Gold Bonnet Plume Outfitters
2019.  First Man of Flight Aerotech

COLLECTIONS & EXHIBITIONS

MAJOR COLLECTIONS

 

Allen & Company Inc.
Briscoe Museum
Buffalo Bill Historical Center
CM Russell
Colorado Historical Center
Entrepreneur America - Robert Ryan
Gates Rubber Company
International Hotels, Inc.
Jackson Bank
Joseph B. Fay & Company

King Ranch, TX
Kriendler Gallery of Western Art - Buffalo Bill Historical Center
Lambshead Ranch, TX
Park Springs Ranch, Anton Chico NM
Pittsfield Products
Pro Rodeo Hall of Champions Museum
Texas Information Center
Texas Instruments
Thomas Gilcrease Museum
Mahlon B. Wallace III

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EXHIBITIONS

American Academy of Equine Art, Lexington KY
American Art Invitational, Denver CO
American Quarter Horse Museum, Amarillo TX
Art on the Avenues, Wenatchee WA
Art on the Llano Estacado, Lubbock TX
Artist in Residence: TD Kelsey, Ennis MT
Autry Museum, Los Angeles CA
Best of TD Kelsey, Sheridan WY
Bradford Britton Museum, Big Horn WY
Briscoe Museum, San AntonioTX
Buffalo Bill Cody Museum Show, Cody WY
CM Russell Auction, Great Falls MT
Colorado Wildlife Heritage Foundation, Denver CO
Coors Show, Denver CO
Cowboy Artists of America, Phoenix AZ
Custer County Museum, Miles City MT
Equine Spirit: The Horse in American Art, Murrells Inlet SC

Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, San Diego CA
Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa OK
Golden Spur Awards, Lubbock TX
John Cullman Conservation Project, New York NY
Kansas State University Veterinary Science, Manhattan KS

Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame, Hobbs NM

Masterworks of American Sculpture - Fleischer Museum, Scottsdale AZ
Mountain Oyster Club, Tuscon AZ
National Cutting Horse Futurity, Fort Worth TX
National Wildlife Art Museum, Jackson Hole WY
NCHA Foundation Gala Art Show, Ft. Worth TX
Northern International Livestock Exposition, Billings MT
Northwest Rendevous Group, Helena MT
Peppertree Calabasas, Santa Barbara CA
Phippen Museum, Prescott AZ
Prix de West, Oklahoma City OK
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Denver CO
Rotary Show, Littleton CO
Safari Club international, Reno NV
Sangre De Christo Arts Center, Pueblo CO
Sculpture In The Park, Loveland CO
Sid's Faves, Bozeman MT
Sun Valley Center For The Arts & Humanities, Sun Valley ID
Thomas Gilcrease Institute, Tulsa OK
Western Heritage Art Fair, Littleton CO

ARTICLES

Africa Sporting Gazette
American Cowboy
Americana
Art of the West
Art Talk
Artists of the Rockies and the Golden West
Bozeman Chronicle
Business Week
Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph
Denver Post
Drover's Journal
Eastern Colorado News
Gilcrease Magazine of American History and Art

Gray's Sporting Journal
Informart
The Longhorn Scene

National Livestock Producer

Nebraskaland
New York Times
Peaks and Plains
Pro Rodeo Sports News
Rocky Mountain News
Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Journal
Sculpture Review
Southwest Art
Texas Longhorn Journal
Texas Trails
The Western Horseman
Western Art and Architecture
Western Art Collector
Wildlife Art

On the Go City Bank Lubbock, Texas    
Ketch Pen Rodeo Historical Society
Sculpture Review National Sculpture Society

ARTICLES, BOOKS & TELEVISION

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BOOKS

Artists of America
Best of Africa Sporting Gazette
Blue Mountain People
Great Rams, Great Rams II, Great Rams III
The Grass Roots People
Ranch
Snowball

A Collection of One

Cowboy Artists of the 21st Century, E. Ashley Rooney, Seth Hopkins

Horses in the American West, Heidi Brady

TELEVISION

Beverly Martinez Show, Denver CO
Colorado Today, Denver CO
Equine Magazine, Dallas-Ft. Worth TX
Mary Ann Rusk Show, Colorado Springs CO

Somewhere West of Wall Street, Red Steagall

ARTISTIC HONORS

Artist Award Safari Club International, Dallas TX
Artist In Residence, Buffalo Bill Historical Center
Award of Excellence in the Field of Sculpture, American Academy of Equine Art
Best of Show, Cowboy Artists of America
Best of Show, Briscoe Museum "Night of Artists"
Billings Cowboy Christmas: Breakfast of Champions Honoree
Cattleman of the Year and Featured Sculptor, Nacogdoches TX
Committees Choice Briscoe Museum, San Antonio,Texas
Gold & Silver Medals, Cowboy Artists of America
Guest Artist Northwest Rendevous Group
Honorary Member, African Professional Hunters Association
Honorary Texas Citizen, December

Honored Artist, Buffalo Bill Historical Center
Honored Artist, Coors Denver National Western
Lecture LBJ Library, University of Texas, Austin TX
Mary Belle Grant Award
People's Choice and Best Sculpture, Buffalo Bill Historical Center
People's Choice, Northwest Rendevous
Rainey Master Sculptor Program, Brookgreen Gardens
Society of Animal Artists Annual Show, Denver Museum of Natural History: Judge
TD Kelsey Day, Tarrant County TX
Thomas Gilcrease Museum, Current Works and Retrospective Show

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum's Prix de West’s 2017 Express Ranches Great American Cowboy Award winner 

ARTISTIC & RANCHING HONORS

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RANCHING HONORS

Greater New Mexico Cutting Horse: Futurity Reserve Champion
Wyoming Cutting Horse Association: Futurity Reserve Champion
Western States Cutting Horse Association: Big Shot Shootout Champion
Big Sky Maturity Champion
Oklahoma Cutting Horse Association: Futurity Reserve Champion
National Western Stock Show and Sale:
     • Two-time Grand Champion Female Longhorn
     • Texas Longhorn Show Judge

Texas Longhorn Breeders Association World Show:
     • Reserve Champion Female
     • Judge

Colorado State Fair:
     • Grand Champion Steer
     • Four-time Texas Longhorn Premier Breeder
     • Four-time High-Selling Female, Annual Sale
First Longhorn Competition, Hudson CO: Grand Champion Female
McCombs Ranch Show and Sale: Grand Champion Pair
Texas Longhorn Breeders Association: National Show Judge

AFFILIATIONS

African Professional Hunters Association
American Quarter Horse Association
Cowboy Artists of America
Dallas Safari Club - Life Member
Experimental Aircraft Association
Foundation for Wild Sheep
International Aerobatic Club
Mountains and Plains Texas Longhorn Association - Life Member
National Cutting Horse Association
National Sculpture Society - Fellow

NRA - Life Member
Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association - Honorary
Safari Club International - Life Member
Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America - Life Member

STUDIES ABROAD

Afganistan, Alaska, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, British Columbia, Burkino Faso, Burma, Cambodia, Canary Islands, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Congo, England, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Ghana, Hawaii, India, Kenya, Kyrgystan, Liberia, Mexico, Mozambique, Mongolia, Namibia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tazmania, Togo, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uraguay, Uganda, Vietnam, Yukon, Zambia, Zimbabwe

AFFILIATIONS & STUDIES
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