For Australian artist Rachel Urquhart, art has been a way of finding her way home.
Raised on a small beef cattle farm, creativity was always present, but it wasn’t until years later, while living far from home in Melbourne, that her drawings truly took shape. Homesickness pulled her pencil toward the things she missed most: horses, cattle, working dogs, wild landscapes, and the quiet poetry of rural life. That longing, paired with creating music merchandise for American artists like Chris Stapleton and the John Denver estate, slowly wove together her love of home, horses, and a growing fascination with the American West.
Although based in Australia, Rachel has followed Art of the Cowgirl for years, drawn to the rare intersection of horses, art, education, and women led community. As a mother of young children, the idea of a space where cowgirls are encouraged to explore, create, and connect resonated deeply.
Her winning Merchandise and Apparel piece, an adaptation of the Art of the Cowgirl logo, reflects the duality she grew up knowing well: beauty and heartbreak, resilience and tenderness, strength and joy. Through elements like the skull and butterflies, and the exuberance of the bucking horse, her work honors the reality of cowgirl life and the humor, grace, and determination it takes to carry it all.
Being selected as the 2026 winner arrived at a pivotal moment in her creative journey, offering affirmation during a season of self doubt and reflection. It also opens a door toward deeper connection with the American Western art world, where rural culture and its artists are celebrated and preserved.
We’re proud to honor Rachel Urquhart as the 2026 Art of the Cowgirl Art Contest Winner in the Merchandise and Apparel category, and grateful for the heart, perspective, and story she brings to this Gathering.