Kim Wiggins is a modernist painter from New Mexico. His distinct style and modern vision have made him one of the most recognizable artists now working in the American West. Acknowledged as a creative forerunner behind the current New West or Modern West movement, he is a prominent speaker in the art industry, encouraging innovation in Western art.
Wiggins grew up on a ranch and was discovered in 1972 by an art dealer from Scottsdale, Arizona. He was mentored early on by the iconic artists Alexandre Hogue and Henriette Wyeth. By 1983, he was the youngest member of the Society of American Impressionists (SAI), exhibiting alongside George Carlson, Everett Raymond Kinstler and Sandy Scott.
Wiggins has won numerous awards and accolades including the 2022 Briscoe Museum Purchase Award, the 2020 Gold Medal for Best Narrative at the Autry Museum, the 2018 Briscoe Museum Patrons’ Choice Award, the 2014 New Mexico Historical Society Heritage Award and the Jackie Autry Special Purchase at the 2005 Masters of the American West.
Ten of Wiggins’ paintings documenting the history of California are housed at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, and are often the centerpiece for backstage interviews such as the Grammy Awards. He was recently honored by the NAACP with an extensive commission documenting various aspects of Black history. These four major works were unveiled last June at the Dayton Art Institute. The artist is currently working on a largescale solo show, The Unexpected West, slated to open November 9, 2024, in Scottsdale.
