About the Artist

Ariel Anton is a self-taught artist who specializes in acrylics. Starting out at age 14, she turned her early experiences with livestock and 4-H participation into the foundation for her expressive and heartfelt paintings of livestock, horses, and rural life. Ariel has a keen focus on capturing the small–often overlooked–details of animals, as she feels they bring a sense of wholeness and personality to the subject. 

Ariel received a B.S. in Agriculture Science at California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo, and earned a commission in the California Army National Guard as a Field Artillery Officer in 2022. Before attending advanced military schooling, Ariel worked on a Jersey dairy, often assisting births and newborn calves to ensure they had the best start at life. Her love of painting livestock grew during her short time at the dairy, as she developed a collection of photo references of her favorite calves that she could paint on her days off.

Ariel is a member of Cowgirl Artists of America, and has had a handful of recent awards for her work including “Best of Show” at the SLOPOKE Western Art Show in 2025, and “Best Acrylic” at the 2026 Cheyenne Frontier Days Western Spirit Art Show. Ariel was also recently selected for Southwest Art’s 2025 “21 Under 31” young artists to watch.

Upcoming Exhibitions & Shows

Tehachapi Art Exhibition & Sale - November 13-14, 2026

Previous Exhibitions & Shows

2026 Modern Masters of the West - King Ranch Saddle Shop, Fort Worth Stockyards

2026 California State Fair Fine Art Show

2026 Unbridled: An All-Women Western Art Exhibition - A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art

2026 Cheyenne Frontier Days Western Spirit Art Show

2026 Red Bluff Western Art Show

2025 SLOPOKE Western Art Show

2025 Madera County Arts Council "Celebrate Agriculture" Show

2024 SLOPOKE Western Art Show

2024 Madera County Arts Council "Celebrate Agriculture" Show 

2023 California State Fair Fine Art Show 

2023 SLOPOKE Western Art Show 

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Awards
People’s Choice Award - 2026 Modern Masters of the West

"Best Acrylic" - 2026 Cheyenne Frontier Days Western Spirit Art Show

"Best of Show" - 2026 Red Bluff Western Art Show​

"Best in Show" - 2025 SLOPOKE Western Art Show

Second Place "Water...Agriculture's Lifeblood" - 2025 Madera County Arts Council "Celebrate Agriculture" Show

"21 Under 31 - Young Artists to Watch" 2025 artist feature in Southwest Art Magazine 

Best Painting - 2024 SLOPOKE Western Art Show 

Second Place "Agriculture's Animal Friends" - 2024 Madera County Arts Council "Celebrate Agriculture" Show 

Memberships