Cowgirl Artists of America Pro Membership 2026

Pro Membership is a juried tier designed for artists actively working at a professional level and gaining momentum in their careers. It is open to a broad range of working artists—from those earlier in their career to more seasoned emerging artists who may not yet meet the criteria for Signature Membership. This tier serves as a valuable stepping stone for artists serious about building their careers in Western art. Pro applicants must demonstrate professionalism, originality, and skill in their work with a strong technical foundation and a developing body of work that reflects a unique artistic voice. Pro Members are actively pursuing growth and visibility in the Western art world.

Applicants must submit 5 pieces of work created within the last 2 years in a single discipline (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.). Images must be submitted in JPG format with a minimum of 1920 px and a maximum of 4800 px, and no larger than 10 MB. Work must not have been created under instruction or during a class workshop. Artists must also submit documentation showing their professional and exhibit history, along with an artist statement. Applications are reviewed by a jury of CGA Signature Members and CGA Team Members and evaluated on first impression, composition, style, technique, craftsmanship, and cohesiveness as a body of work. Traditional and realist work will be evaluated on accuracy of representation, while contemporary work will be evaluated on purposeful decision-making in composition and color choice. Only artists working in the western genre are accepted into juried tiers. Indigenous artists creating cultural art and/or documenting the American West/Western culture are welcome to apply; please add tribal affiliation to the work description.

Call opens April 1 (12 AM Central) and closes April 30 (11:55 PM Central). Application fee is $50 and non-refundable. Acceptance is not guaranteed. All applicants will receive notice of their application status by June 15. Individualized feedback will be provided when possible. Note: You must be a CGA member and have completed your orientation before applying to Pro.