Born into the ranching heritage of the Southwest, Ken Payne began his artistic career as a painter, focusing on the landscapes, cowboys, and native peoples of the Southwest. While always pursuing his passion for art, Ken became an accomplished pilot, going from crop-dusting, to instructing, to flying smokejumpers, and then flying for a commercial airline.

As a lifelong student of history, Ken spent many hours researching stories about the West. In the late 1970’s he decided to turn his talents toward Bronze Sculpture and for more than four decades produced close to 150 sculptures, depicting the action, danger, and even the humor of many a frontier situation. ?His sculptures have been collected nationally and internationally by both private and corporate collectors. Ken pioneered the idea of sculpting in public and was featured in a nationally-televised program entitled Sculpting with Ken Payne.

Ken was respected in the art world as a talented sculptor, painter and businessman, establishing bronze casting foundries in Lincoln County, NM, as well as Arizona and Colorado. Ken also was the founder of Mountain Trails Gallery, Inc. where he established fine art galleries in Santa Fe, NM and Sedona, AZ. People came from all over the country and the world to hear him tell his stories as he sculpted into bronze the history of the disappearing American west. He touched the hearts of many with his spirited tales of a time when he lived in books as a child and from then on. He collected an extensive library, well worn and stained with paint and clay as he strived to portray with accuracy the fading ways of the cowboys, mountain men, pioneers, and the beloved Native Americans.

His legacy will live on through the artistic talents of his sons, Vic and Phillip, and grandson Dustin Payne. He will be remembered as one of the most influential Western sculptors of the twenty-first century.

Source:
Submitted by the family of the artist

Ken Payne, born to the ranching heritage of the Southwest, brings the exciting memories of the Old West to life in his heroic bronze sculpture depicting the action, the danger, even the humor of many a frontier situation.

Ken is a fan of the great sculptors of the past, especially the Greek and Roman masters. He strives for the same design qualities within his western themes.

The bronze sculpture of Ken Payne is shown and collected internationally, and is prized by noted art connoisseurs as well as first-time collectors. His work is followed by thousands more through the nationally televised program, "Sculping with Ken Payne".

Ken's studio is located in Ruidoso, New Mexico. He is usually found working in public where he enjoys meeting visitors and telling stories of the Old West. Ken is dedicated to authentically and permanently recording for us and generations to come, a dynamic era we can hold in our hands - and our hearts.

Ken will usually begin sculpting with a story he wants to tell or a title that captures his imagination. His stories have been included with each bronze and help bring 'The Old West' of life.