Lester Hughes Signed Oil Painting – Cowboys at the Pass

This original 1974 oil painting on stretched canvas by renowned Western artist Lester Hughes (1921-2021) captures the rugged beauty of the Organ Mountains in southern New Mexico. Signed in the lower right corner, the composition showcases the iconic jagged peaks bathed in warm sunlight, set against a vast desert landscape with towering yucca plants and two cowboys on horseback, a hallmark of Hughes' celebrated Western scenes.

Hughes' masterful use of atmospheric perspective and detailed brushwork brings depth and realism to the piece, making it a standout example of Southwestern landscape painting. His works have become increasingly sought after by collectors of Western and Texas regional art.

Details:

• Artist: Lester Hughes (1921-2021)
• Title: Organ Mountains Landscape
• Year: 1974
• Medium: Oil on stretched canvas
• Signature: Signed "Lester Hughes 1974" in the lower right corner
• Framing: Beveled wood frame with gilt accents and a linen border (no glass)

Condition:

• Painting: Good vintage condition with minor craquelure, consistent with age.
• Frame: Good condition with minor stains to the linen border; no glass.

Dimensions:

• Overall (Framed): 32.5" x 28.5" (82.5 x 72.5 cm)
• Visible Canvas: 23.5" x 19.5" (59.7 x 49.5 cm)

About the Artist:
Lester Hughes
(1938-2021)

From his humble beginnings on a dusty street in El Paso, Texas, Lester Hughes never dreamed that one day his paintings would hang in the White House. His dream came true, when one of his works was presented to President, Ronald Reagan during a campaign stop in 1976. That particular oil painting, featuring a New Mexico landscape with a dilapidated windmill and old shack, and several of Hughes' other works hang in the presidential mansion during Ronald Reagan's tenure in office. Reagan’s art collection grew to feature more than a dozen of Lester Hughes’ finest works.

Despite being colorblind, Lester Hughes taught himself to paint and garnered great acclaim for his majestic landscapes of the Southwest. Several U.S. Presidents, politicians, movie-stars and professional athletes are among the owners of Lester Hughes’ work.