This paper examines how the subject of female artists working in the American West has often been overlooked due to pervasive
Western male stereotypes, which include popular media overlays of cowboys, male hero icons, and male activities. It looks at how the environment of the American West has been the inspiration for many American female
artists and, in particular,
landscape photographer Laura Gilpin and contemporary artist Agnes Pelton. It shows how both artists use the unique vibrant landscape and the peoples of the American West as their subject matter and how, while they differ in their approaches, technique, and underlying philosophy, both artists create unique works of art that explore the outer and inner depth and beauty of the region.