Inducted in 2017
Mikel Donahue, Class of 1974, is a western artist whose work has been exhibited in the Governor’s Gallery at the Oklahoma State Capitol, Gilcrease Museum, Booth Museum, Briscoe Museum, Eiteljorg Museum, Buffalo Bill Center of the West, to name a few. After a 33 year, multiple award winning career as an art director in the advertising arena, he turned his attention to drawing and painting full time. Mikel’s character and style depicts an honesty that is true to the people and places he portrays. His exposure to western art came at an early age with visits to Gilcrease Museum and The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.
In 2016, Mikel was voted in as a member of the Cowboy Artists of America, an exclusive organization of artists that was founded in 1965; a virtual who’s who in the western art world, an honor many aspire to and few reach in their career. He was the 2011 recipient of the Academy of Western Artist’ Will Rogers Award for “Artist of the Year.” In 2010 Mikel was awarded the prestigious “Premier Platinum Award” and the “William E. Weiss Purchase Award” at the Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale. His work hangs in many museums, galleries and private collections throughout the country. He has been the subject of several articles and on the covers of magazines including: Art of the West, American Art Collector, Southwest Art, Western Horseman, American Cowboy and The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal. He has donated works to benefit the fund raising efforts of many organizations, including the American Cancer Society, AQHA Scholarship Program and the WRCA Crisis Fund.
