For a decade or so before Art of the Cowgirl came to fruition, Tammy Pate was laying the groundwork for her dream, telling the talented artists and craftswomen she knew about her vision for a fellowship program that would elevate women makers and create a deep-rooted community among western artisans.
One of the first women Tammy pulled into the fold was Nancy Martiny, a longtime friend and talented saddle maker and leatherworker from Idaho. When she attended the event in its first year, Nancy knew it was special. She finally saw Tammy’s vision come to life as well as its enormous potential for the future.
Since 2018, Nancy has been a Master Artist four times, guiding her fellowship recipients in the art of her trade with sound advice and technical skills. Nancy also sits on the Art of the Cowgirl Foundation Board, where she is able to help keep Tammy’s vision and mission alive and well. This year, amidst running her leather shop (there is a six year waiting list for a genuine Martiny saddle), working her ranch, and being inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame, Nancy found the time to create a beautiful leather purse to submit to our fourth annual Cowgirl Art Contest, and won.
On one side, the purse displays intricate floral tooling encircling a wool Pendleton blanket patch with silver accents. On the reverse, Nancy has translated Tammy Pate’s original logo drawing to leather with the detail and precision of a true artist, yet again. When asked why she decided to create a purse for the contest, Nancy said that “a purse always represents a challenge” – it’s a piece that should be as functional as it is beautiful. As the winning submission in the Heirloom / Award category, the purse will be presented to the winner of the Artist Quick Draw Competition, which will be held during our main event at Ranch Rio in Wickenburg, AZ from February 24 – 28, 2026.
In the seven years that Nancy has been involved with Art of the Cowgirl, her business and reputation as a saddle maker and leatherworker have skyrocketed. The social media and Internet exposure have given “word of mouth” a new meaning and opened doors for her that would have otherwise remained shut. “Art of the Cowgirl dragged me out of a hole – in a good way. It’s just opened up the world for me,” she says. Just last year, Nancy was featured in The New York Times, but despite her immense talent and growing fame, she remains incredibly humble, a characteristic typical of many western women who have found their position in life through hard work and determination.
Her loyalty and love of the organization only grows deeper with time as she watches the ripple effect of mentoring other women in her trade. “It’s hard to become a successful saddlemaker, and it’s harder for women,” she says, so skill diversity is key when it comes to making a living with leather. “It’s a business based in art, but practicality as well.” That’s why she makes a point to suggest other expert female leather workers as Master Artists for the Fellowship Program, expanding the breadth of knowledge available to the recipients.
As a true cowgirl, a skilled artist, and an empowering teacher, Nancy Martiny embodies everything that our organization represents and we’re grateful for all of her contributions to Art of the Cowgirl.
