One of the Finest Collections of Sporting and Wildlife in America!
Established by the Museum’s founder John L. Wehle, the collection unites his passion for art with his interests in hunting, sports, wildlife, and conservation. Spanning the 17th to 20th centuries, the paintings, drawings, prints, and sculptures document the changing taste and styles of sporting and wildlife art. The Gallery traces the history of equine, canine, racing, driving, angling, hunting, and shooting art as well as wildlife from diverse areas of the United States.
The collection has hailed by Wildlife Magazine as “one of the finest in the world.” Visitors of all ages enjoy and are inspired by this internationally recognized collection.
Discover Four Centuries of World-Class Art!
The gallery houses a stunning collection of Western views and sculptures created by artists such as Frederic Remington, Robert Henri, John Sloan, Eanger Irving Couse, Wilhelm Kuhnert, Ernest Hennings, Ernest Blumenschein, and other acclaimed artists who sought to create a truly American art.
Thanks to Jack Wehle’s connoisseurship, the gallery includes early castings of iconic works such as Broncho Buster and The Outlaw by Frederic Remington, End of the Trail by James Earle Fraser, and superb examples of Taos Art Colony works.
In addition, the historic collection of wildlife and sporting art features works by such distinguished artists as John James Audubon, Frederic Remington, Carl Rungius, Maud Earl, Bob Kuhn, and Bruno Liljefors.
The collection of notable paintings and sculptures traces profound social, artistic, and ideological changes in the interaction between humans and animals. Shifting perspectives are dramatically portrayed among the works—animals as prey, as servants, as companions, and as subjects of curiosity and scientific inquiry.
The Collection's Namesake
John “Jack” L. Wehle founded Genesee Country Village & Museum in 1976. An avid sportsman, outdoorsman, and artist himself, Jack Wehle travelled the world to amass this stunning collection. Jack Wehle collected the most influential names in sporting and wildlife art as a foundation of the collection, supplementing the collection, commissioning, and supporting works by artists that would later gain worldwide prominence. Jack Wehle’s keen sense of artistic skill led him to further enrich the sporting and wildlife art collection, expanding the collection into the beacon it is today
On View Now
New to the John L. Wehle Gallery as of February 2024 is a semi-permanent exhibit titled Perceived Realities: Wildlife, Land, and Myth. This new exhibit features some of the finest pieces of sporting and wildlife art collected by John L. Wehle himself.
Gallery Talks & Tours
Visitors to the John L. Wehle Gallery can enjoy curator-led talks and tours throughout the season.