An exhibit opening for the new exhibit, King Ranch–Legacy in Art, will take place Friday, February 24, at 3:30 p.m. at the National Ranching Heritage Center (NRHC) on Texas Tech University campus in Lubbock.
“Visitors will hear stories from the artist, Noe Perez, and King Ranch Historian, Bob Kinnan, in this beautiful, informative account of the ranch and its artistic heritage through 20 paintings,” explains Robert Tidwell, Ph.D., NRHC Interim Helen DeVitt Jones Endowed Director of Collections, Exhibits and Research. The paintings are made available for the exhibit courtesy of King Ranch, Inc.
“Kineños.” The original Kineños traveled from their northern Mexico home of Cruillas in 1854 with a promise from Captain King of a home and livelihood on the Santa Gertrudis. The King’s people have served King Ranch for seven generations.
After the program, guests will have the opportunity to stay for a meet and greet and book signing of “King Ranch–Legacy in Art.” Books will be available for purchase at Cogdell’s General Store in the NRHC.
The event is free to the public and light refreshments will be available. To reserve a seat, visit ranchingheritage.org.
Noe Perez is a contemporary Texas painter living in Corpus Christi. He has painted his native South Texas his entire life, and his work has been on exhibition in several museums and institutes.
“Noe’s landscapes are authentic and serve as a reminder of the beautifully rugged place that is King Ranch,” said James “Jamey” H. Clement, Jr, 5th generation member of the King Ranch family. “I can think of no better artist to provide an inside view of our family home and convey in a small way why we are so proud of it and its legacy. His paintings are a motivating force for me to live up to the standards set by Captain and Mrs. King, working to preserve this glorious heritage.”
“Chon’s Barn.” This beautiful barn is a stone’s throw from the Main House, the last remaining barn of this design once located around the Santa Gertrudis headquarters. Its stately structure commands attention and fits well within the ranch landscape.
Over the course of 170 years, King Ranch led some of the first cattle drives, developed the Santa Gertrudis and Santa Cruz breeds of cattle, bred the finest Quarter Horses, and produced champion Thoroughbreds—all under its iconic Running W brand.
Today, King Ranch continues to foster a culture of uncompromising quality, stewardship, and authenticity—a true testament to Captain King’s integrity and commitment to the land.
Experience the King Ranch through the brush of the artist in a stunning display of paintings at the National Ranching Heritage Center from February 24, 2023–May 24, 2023. In addition to the exhibition, visitors can see a portion of the historic Caesar’s Pens from the King Ranch, once the largest cattle shipping enclosures in the world, that were given to the NRHC to be a part of the railroad complex in the Foy Proctor Historic Park.
Top image: “Picking the Day’s Mount.” The cowboy and horse have a symbiotic relationship in the ranching culture. Here a King Ranch vaquero and his mount prepare for the day’s work.
