Born and raised in Abilene Texas, Susan Hackney has been surrounded by farm and ranch animals for most of her life. Throughout her professional art career, her artworks often portray animals; especially horses, dogs, and cattle.
As a youth she was enrolled in Art Instruction Schools and began winning art awards in the fifth grade. Earning an art degree in college, Hackney has studied under some of today's leading and notable western artists. She also participated in a 3 year apprenticeship under Hungarian - American master artist, Lajos Markos (1917-1993), who was trained at the Royal Academy of Budapest. This experience of working as an apprentice has proven to be a formidable part of Susan's art development and career.
Known for her ability in capturing the subject's expression and gestures, her works have been featured in major national art magazine articles including:
Western Art Collector magazine - "Art of the Horse" May 2024, and "Women Artists of the West" Feb 2009.
Southwest Art magazine - "Small Works" Dec/Jan 2024, "Women Artists" Oct/Nov 2023, and Highlighting four "Texas Artists" Feb/March 2023.
Artworks have been selected for national ad campaigns and displayed in galleries and art shows including:
• Phippen Museum, Prescott AZ - Hold Your Horses! 2024, 2023 Invitational exhibitions
• Bosque Art Classic - 2025 & multiple years, juried art shows, Clifton TX.
• 2024 America's Horse In Art, American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum; Amarillo TX.
• Museum of Western Art (MOWA) Kerrville TX, 2025-2023 annual Round-Up invitational art shows. 2019-2017 Miniature Holiday Shows.
• 2022 Mountain Oyster Club, Tucson AZ - 54th annual juried show.
• 2019 Draft Horse Classic, The Classic Invitational, Grass Valley CA
• 2011 3rd place - Draft Horse Classic, Grass Valley CA
• 2011 Texas Hill Country Invitational, Boerne TX
• The American Academy of Equine Art, multiple juried shows: 2014 Scott County Arts and Cultural Center in Georgetown KY, 2012 Spindletop Hall in Lexington KY, 2009 Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington KY.
• 2010 New Jersey Equine Artists Association, Art of the Horse, Farmstead Arts, Basking Ridge NJ
• 2009 Saks Galleries in Denver CO, Nat'l juried Women Artists of the West (WAOW).
• 2005 Cross Gate Gallery traveling exhibit, Masters of Foxhounds Association, in Lexington KY
ACCOLADES
• Illustrated book: Glory Be! It's Punkin's Story, for Bob Wills daughter Carolyn, about Bob Will's horse Punkin. Winner of the 2025 Juvenile Book category, Western Heritage Award at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, OK.
• Wine label commission, TX Vintners Hideaway winery - Winner of the 2021 Lone Star Wine Label Competition - Double Gold.
• 2015, Selected artist by Bending Branch Winery, invitations and posters for their Kentucky Derby Extravaganza.
• 2011, 3rd Place, Draft Horse Classic, Invitational in Grass Valley CA
• 2007, Best of Show, Draft Horse Classic, Art at the Classic Invitational in Grass Valley CA
MEMBER
Oil Painters of America (OPA), Associate member
American Women Artists (AWA), Associate member, (artworks used for the AWA national juried art show advertising)
American Academy of Equine Art (AAEA), former Board Member.
Hackney resides in the Texas Hill Country with her Quarter horse Rio, and her two Boxer dogs.
Artwork has sold to collectors across the USA.
Some of Susan Hackney's original oil paintings will be available in the October 2025 First Friday Art Online exhibit hosted by Western Galleries, an online art gallery based in Fredericksburg Texas.
The exhibit opens Friday, October 3, 2025.
Contact Western Galleries with any questions, or if you are interested in previewing Susan Hackney's artworks in person. Private in-person meetings are by appointment.
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© Western Galleries Fredericksburg TX
Photos courtesy of the artist
All rights reserved.