Capturing All Of The West One Artwork At A Time

Anne Beard lives on a rural property in the foothills of the Blue Mountains in the high desert of eastern Oregon.

- Chase Reynolds Ewald

There the expansive views across vast grasslands to Mount Adams and the Cascades provide both the solace and inspiration she needs to create her award-winning furniture designs. But it is her immediate influences—the flora and fauna that appear in her garden, the everyday lifestyle of her working-ranching neighbors, and her immersion in the world of rodeo and Western culture— that provide an endless source of ideas for designs that capture the spirit of the West.

Sagebrush, cactus, horses, brands, and wildlife are just some of the icons that manifest in her designs. The pieces range from serene—pine needles with snow—to dynamic: bucking horses, running deer, and smiling cowgirls. A curved footstool covered with embossed leather features a quiet cowboy scene in a high desert landscape. Ojibwa floral patterns and decorative nailhead patterns make a dramatic statement against a black background. A fringed and tassled chair featuring a bucking horse is accompanied by interlocking horseshoe-shaped ottomans. Says the artist, who never repeats a design, “It suits my nature to do one-of a-kind pieces. It’s also a great challenge creatively.” Beard’s designs—and her exacting craftsmanship—resonate. The recipient of many awards, her work has been featured in magazines, coffee-table books, and documentaries.