2024 Steel Dust Award, Presented by Art of the West Magazine

Elizabeth Sage of Tempe, Arizona, won the prestigious Steel Dust Award, presented by Art of the West magazine, during the opening reception of the 16th annual America’s Horse in Art Show & Sale on August 10 at the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum in Amarillo.

Sage was recognized for balancing traditional concepts with loose and flowing brush strokes, strong detail and dramatic lighting and shadow in her one-of-a-kind oil on linen piece “Bred For It.” The 2024 Steel Dust Award is based on artistic merit and recognizes the artist in a "best of show" competition chosen by a panel of judges. Sage received a specially designed plaque and full-page advertisement in Art of the West, valued at $3,075, courtesy of Art of the West.

Sage grew up on a working ranch in northern California, where training horses and traveling to horse shows and rodeos served as inspiration for her artistic passion. When she wasn’t riding, she was drawing and painting the western lifestyle she lived. After working in corporate graphic design for over 20 years, she left to answer the lifelong call to create powerful imagery and stories on canvas. 

Sage’s art reflects her interests in an up close and personal moment in time. At 16, her first oil paintings were commissioned as American Quarter Horse and Appaloosa Horse high-point award ceremonies marking the end of each show year. Shortly thereafter, her works were accepted in Colorado Springs galleries, as well as showcased and sold in new model homes.

America’s Horse in Art
The America’s Horse in Art Show & Sale is a fundraiser for the American Quarter Horse Foundation and is an invitation-only art show focusing on works that showcase the western and ranching lifestyle and the role the American Quarter Horse plays. Relevant works may also include landscapes, tack, gear, chuckwagons, etc. Artwork is submitted in various mediums, such as oil, acrylic, watercolor, pencil, charcoal and bronze.

As the signature art exhibition of the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum, a portion of the proceeds benefit the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum. The Hall of Fame celebrates and preserves the history of the American Quarter Horse and develops a variety of educational and outreach programs to enrich the lives of members and the Panhandle community. The pieces that were not sold on August 10 are still available for purchase through October 12. To view the available art and add a piece to your collection, visit www.americashorseinart.com.

America's Horse in Art is underwritten by the Amarillo Convention & Visitor Bureau, Wylie Hicks, the Fairly Group and Ingram Quarter Horses.

For more information on the America’s Horse in Art Show & Sale, visit www.americashorseinart.com.

AQHA news and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more information visit www.aqha.com/news or tune into our Podcast, “Let's Talk AQHA.”