A Cowboy's Canvas
Artist Walter Piehl knows what it’s like to spend time in a hospital.
In 2023, he underwent a double heart bypass and valve replacement at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks. He’s grateful to the doctors who cared for him and appreciates the new Altru Hospital’s commitment to meaningful art.
So when Casey Opstad invited him to collaborate on “Seasons,” Walter was all in.
Walter’s Rodeo Roots
Walter grew up on a farm near Marion, North Dakota, where his dad was a rodeo contractor. Walter followed the circuit as an announcer.
At UND, a professor suggested Walter paint what he knew. “It would be far better for you to paint the rodeo than continue with those lame and insipid landscapes,” he told him.
“That was sobering,” Walter said, “but also liberating.”
His first gallery acceptance in Scottsdale, Arizona, launched a decades-long career exhibiting across the Southwest. “Western art was in its heyday during the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s,” Walter said. “I was very fortunate to be part of that.”
Now, more than six decades into his artistic career, Walter is known for “Western Americana” art — a blend of Western themes and contemporary style. “It’s not just rodeo and moving horses,” he said. “It includes still life — things like saddles, boots, and hats.”
His work has been shown in many museums, including the Eiteljorg Museum (Indianapolis), the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame (Colorado Springs), and the Yellowstone Art Museum (Billings, Montana).
Walter Piehl was "all in" on contributing to Casey Opstad's "Seasons" gallery at Altru Hospital. His art is also showcased in a hospital waiting room.
The Artist and the Teacher
Walter spent nearly 50 years teaching at Minot State University before retiring in 2017. His advice to students: “Think outside the loop.”
“I encouraged students the same way I was encouraged — to find their own niche in terms of subject and technique,” he said.
Walter continues to create. “I’m in the studio every day,” he said. “What else am I going to do?”
