With classic Western scenery and an array of colorful characters, it's no wonder that the small town of Cody is such a big player in the art scene.

“It doesn't matter if you're wearing a beret in Paris or a cowboy hat in northwest Wyoming, authentic artistry happens with inspiration, and there is plenty of that to be found here,” said Katrina Southern, marketing manager of Cody Yellowstone, the marketing arm for the region that includes the towns of Cody, Powell and Meeteetse, parts of the Shoshone National Forest and a large swath of Yellowstone National Park. “We are proud of our artistic heritage and take great pride in knowing that art-lovers throughout the world have noticed too.”

Cody's art scene got off to a running start more than a century ago when New York heiress and sculptor Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney created The Scout, a massive sculpture of Buffalo Bill Cody on horseback which was installed adjacent to the Buffalo Bill Museum and is now the cornerstone of the Whitney Western Art Museum. The art museum was established in 1959 and is now one of five museums comprising the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.

Between the museum, the town's annual art event, a gallery devoted to creations using local materials, various galleries downtown and a coop featuring the works of more than 200 local creators, the town has been lauded by USA Today readers as a Top Small Town Arts Scene and a Top Art Town by Travel + Leisure. Additionally, the Whitney Western Art Museum was named the Best Art Museum in the U.S. by Newsweek.

Visitors to Cody who want to immerse themselves in art should visit the following:

The Whitney Western Art Museum, of Course.

On addition to The Scout, the museum is known for its works by famous Western artists such as Charlie Russell, Frederic Remington, Thomas Moran, Albert Bierstadt and many others.

Rendezvous Royale and Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale

The biggest art event of the year is the Rendezvous Royale, a celebration of fine art interpreting the land, people and wildlife of the American West. Scheduled this year for Sept. 15 – 20, 2025, the multi-day event includes an auction of contemporary Western art, a Quick Draw event, educational seminars and studio tours. The celebration is capped by the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, a massive fine art sale showcasing stylistic interpretations of the American West, and the elegant Patron's Ball.

By Western Hands Museum & Gallery

By Western Hands Museum & Gallery is a non-profit artisan guild that showcases Western design and functional art and includes galleries and workshop space. Through his Shoshone Furniture Company, famed furniture designer Thomas Molesworth popularized a Western design style that continues to inspire modern artists. Local materials such as gnarled pine, juniper, antlers and leather abound in this gallery.

 Cody Arts

Located in the building that once housed the Buffalo Bill Museum and is today the headquarters for the Cody Chamber of Commerce, Cody Arts is also a favorite stop, with pottery, photography, mosaics, jewelry and other artwork crafted by more than 200 artists.

Open Range Images

Showcasing the works of 13 local photographers, Open Range Images features shots of wildlife, geology, Yellowstone National Park and the Old West.

Vic Payne Studio & Gallery

Located in the town of Meeteetse, Vic Payne Studio & Gallery is housed in the restored Meeteetse Mercantile. The gallery combines art and history while showcasing nationally and internationally recognized artists.

Plaza Diane Community Center for the Arts

Plaza Diane Community Center for the Arts in Powell is the result of collaboration among multiple community organizations and citizens who worked with the City of Powell to create a center for arts and culture in the heart of Powell's downtown shopping district. In addition to providing gallery space for local artists, the center hosts classes and a wide range of events such as themed dinners, Oktoberfest, ChristmasFest and more.

Around Cody

Cody is also home to numerous art galleries showcasing paintings, sculptures, jewelry and other original pieces created by local and regional artists and photographers.

Wild West Spectacular

For more than 10 years, this award-winning Wild West Spectacular musical production is staged in the historic Cody Theater for six weeks during the summer. The 90-minute performance tells the story of Buffalo Bill Cody's dream of becoming the world's greatest showman through high-energy songs and dances performed by talented performers from around the region. The show has been awarded “Best Wild West Show” by True West Magazine.

Yellowstone Film Festival

The Yellowstone Film Festival debuted in March 2025 with a 78-film lineup at Big Horn Cinemas in Cody. The event featured feature films, animated shorts, documentaries and other projects from local and international filmmakers, including productions from the United States, Serbia, Italy and Iran.

Bears in the Basin

Part art installation and part scavenger hunt, Bears in the Basin uses an app through for kids – and some adults – to search for three kinds of “bears” – “Buffalo Bear Cody” in Cody, “Farmer Growl” in Powell and “Amelia Bearhart” in Meeteetse. Each bear highlights what each town is noted for while showcasing the considerable talents of local artist, Tanner Loren.

Street Art

From murals to sculptures that dot the downtown areas of Cody, Meeteetse and Powell, this is a destination that embraces street art. Look for the new murals that recently popped up near Cody's City Brew Drive-Thru and near the Cody Band Shell in City Park. And don't miss the life-size sculpture of Buffalo Bill Cody sitting on a bench outside the Irma Hotel.

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Home of the Great American Adventure, Cody Yellowstone is comprised of the northwestern Wyoming towns of Cody, Powell and Meeteetse as well as areas inside of Yellowstone National Park and the valley east of the entrance. The region is known for rodeos, authentic guest and dude ranches, world-class museums and recreational adventures that reflect the adventurous spirit of the visionaries and explorers who brought the remote region to the world's attention.