The Red River Gallery of Art has become a high country tradition . Featuring the work of world renowned painter and sculptor Kenneth Wyatt, the gallery is located on Pioneer Street at the river.

A pastor for 32 years, Kenneth Wyatt began painting 27 years ago. He is perhaps best-known for his Western art and a series on the Twelve Apostles. In addition, his portrait of baseball great Mickey Mantle currently hangs in the Oklahoma State Capitol Building.

He has recently contributed "Leaves Of Gold" (seen above) for the Red River Women’s Club fundraising project, renovation of the historic Little Red School House. Tickets are available at the gallery and from Women’s Club members.

Born in Wichita Falls, Texas and raised in the hill country around Stephenville, Wyatt’s art reflects the influence of his early surroundings. He isn’t just a Western artist, however.

"I want to be known," Wyatt says, "as a good artist that paints some Western, not as a Western artist that paints a little out of his field."

He works up to 16 hours a day in his studio in Tulia, Texas. In addition to the gallery in Red River, his main gallery is also in Tulia, as is his publishing company, Y-8 Publishing, and his foundry, Y-8 Bronze, where his sculptures are cast in bronze, pewter and stone.