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Biography Jan Mapes

Colorado has been home for Jan Mapes since 1969, when her parents moved there after a life in the military. The western lifestyle suited Jan, as she always dreamed of living with cowboys, horses, cattle, wildlife, and the beautiful landscapes of the west.  Art became her venue for expressing and sharing her love for these things. Today Jan Mapes lives near the small town of Kim, Colorado, where the cedars and pinon trees grow close to the rock canyons and bluffs that are part of the high plains ranching community of southeastern Colorado. The beauty feeds the soul, and its inhabitants give Jan Mapes plenty of subject matter for her sculptures and paintings.

Jan Mapes, Kid Stuff, Bronze Edition of 15, 14" x 16" x 7"

Jan Mapes has studied with other accomplished artists, honing her skills and fulfilling the passion she has for sharing the character and individuality of all of Gods creations. 

Whether it is painting or sculpting, Jan desires to portray the essence of the moment, being it is a mood, a time, the light, or the movement. "Something special to be remembered, and just as importantly, that there are many things worth stopping and taking note of. Then, paint it or sculpt it to direct the viewer to the heart of it, so they feel it, not just see it.”

Jan Mapes, Blue Girls, Oil on Canvas, 30" x 24"

Commissioned works, whether private or public, are an important part of Jan Mapes' work. She created the National Cutting Horse Assn. official trophy, the All American Limousin Futurity award, the Zane Schulte Memorial Award, and the Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center sculpture, to name a few. 

Jan Mapes' sculptures and paintings are represented in galleries and museums across the country. She attends multiple shows annually. 

“I hope to continue to create art to share this human experience, to take it all in, even of the small stuff (well, then there is no small stuff) I thank God for his gifts.”

Jan Mapes, Not Today, Bronze Edition of 15, 18" x 28" x 14"

Selected Awards and Honors

2009 - Best of Sculpture for From Bad to Worse, Bosque Conservatory Art Classic, Clifton TX

2007 - Best of Show and Purchase Award for bronze entitled Not Today, "Cowgirl Up! The Art from the Other Half of the West," Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Wickenburg, AZ

2007- 3rd Place-Oil Painting Hillside Herefords Phippen Museum Western Art Show, Prescott, AZ

2005 - 2nd Place Sculpture Award- bronze entitled Twist n Shout
2002-2005 - Official National Cutting Horse Association Trophy
2004 - 30th Annual Phippen Museum Western Art Show, Foundation Award Home Schoolin' (Phippen Museum permanent collection)
2004 - 3rd place Sculpture Award Hobbled, and Phippen Family Award
2001 - Best of Sculpture -Western Spirit Show, Cheyenne, WY
2001 - Best of Sculpture -Scottsdale Arts School Show, Scottsdale, AZ
2000 - Best of Sculpture Scratch 'N Sniff - Western Spirit Show, Cheyenne, WY
2000 - Best of Sculpture Patron - Best and the Brightest, Scottsdale Arts School, AZ
1998 - Best of Show Joint Venture - La Junta Fine Arts League, CO
1997 - Grand Prize for Excellence Lickitty Split, Gold Medal in Sculpture No Score - Knickerbocker Artists 45th Grand International Open Juried Exhibition "Signature Classic", Scottsdale, AZ
1997 - Jurors Choice Award Lickitty Split - La Junta Fine Arts League, CO

Publications
Wildlife Art

Western Art Collector
Art Talk

Performance Horse Magazine
Southwest Art
Quarter Horse News

Rodeo Sports News

Western Horseman Magazine

Cowboys and Indians

Public Commissions
-All American Limousin Futurity - Grand Champion Bull, Grand Champion Female, Grand Champion Bull Sponsor, Grand Champion Female Sponsor, 1995-2004
-Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center, La Junta, CO - Monument Body and Soul, April 2000
-Colorado Stallion Breeders Association, Sculpture for Futurity Champion Award, 10 years
- National Cutting Horse Association.-Official Trophy- 2002-2005

-Zane Schulte-Trainer of the Year Award-NCHA

-National Cutting Horse Association World Record High Score Award

National/ International Juried Exhibitions
1999, 1997, 1992 - Loveland Sculpture Invitational Show and Sale, CO
1998 - 15th Annual Sculpture in the park International Exhibition, Loveland, CO
1998-1993 - Mountain Oyster Club Contemporary Western Art Show and Sale, Tucson, AZ
1996 - Knickerbocker Artists 45th Grand International Open Juried Exhibition "Signature Classic" - Grand Prize for Excellence Lickitty Split, Gold Medal in Sculpture No Score, Scottsdale, AZ

Regional Juried Exhibitions

2007- Cowgirl Up, Desert CO and Caballeros Museum, Wickenburg, AZ

2007, 2001-2005- Coors Western Art Exhibit, Denver CO
2001 - Desert Caballeros Western Museum's "Rising Stars 2001" Exhibition, Wickenburg, AZ

1999-2005- Sculpture in the park, Loveland, CO

1999 - Outlaw Artists Show and Sale, Fallbrook, CO
1999, 1998 - Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame Art Show, Colorado Springs, CO
1999-1995 - La Junta Fine Arts League Annual Art Show, CO
1998-1997 - The City of Littleton Fine Arts Committee, Garden of Sculpture and Tent Show, Littleton, CO
1997-1996 - Happy Canyon Western Art Invitational, Pendleton Roundup, Pendleton, OR
1997 - Littleton Rotary Club Art Show, CO and Meeker Dog Trail and Art Show, CO

Selected Corporate and Public Collections
U.S. West Corporation, Denver, CO
Southwest Eye Institute, Oklahoma City, Lawton, OK
Magness Land and Cattle, Platteville, CO
Magness Arabians, Platteville, CO
T-Cross Ranches, Pueblo, CO

Professional Memberships
Signature Member of Knickerbocker Artists, USA, National Sculpture Society, and La Junta Fine Arts League

Education
Associate of Arts (1975) Lamar Community College
Graduate of Horse Training and Management Program (1975) Lamar Community College
Bachelor of Science, Earth Science (1978) University of Northern Colorado

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Jan Mapes, Heading for the Gather, Oil on Canvas Board, 8" x 10"