Zak Pullen Art on Display at Brinton

On March 7, The Brinton Museum held an artist’s talk and reception for illustrator Zak Pullen, whose artwork is currently on display in the S.K. Johnston, Jr. Family Gallery.

Curatorial Director Jochen Wierich introduced Pullen.

After many years in New York Pullen returned to Casper, Wyoming. In 2014, he received the Governor’s Art Award, the youngest artist to ever receive that award.

Jochen said that two of Pullen’s s inspirations were artists Norman Rockwell and J. C. Leyendecker.

After art school, Pullen had to find his own style.

He said he re-did his portfolio, and then moved back to New York for a time. He had an agent, but they eventually parted ways and he worked on his own. “It was great to have her when I was in New York,” he added.

He did several magazine covers. He said they would call requesting cover art on a Tuesday, and the cover was due by Thursday so it could print on Friday.

He said they didn’t know his history, and didn’t know he was from Wyoming. The book was a western book, and he didn’t tell them he was from Wyoming until the book was almost finished. The book did get into Society of Illustraters Orginial Art Show, but he was young didn’t realize what a big deal it was to get into that show. Today he said to have his illustrations in their museum is an great honor.

The artwork on display at the Brinton is from three of Pullen’s books, including “The Christmas Ass,” which tells the story of a rabbit family’s Christmas.

One thing Pullen pointed out on the illustrations was that the rabbits would not make ‘snowman’ they would make a ‘snow-rabbit.’

Much of the artwork on display is from the book, A Home for Steamboat, published in 2025, written by Casey Rislov, about Steamboat, the bucking horse that became the Wyoming iconic image on the license plates and football helmets.

He said in researching Steamboat, he discovered that the horse had went through three different owners, “Kind of a foster horse in that way.”

He talked about doing the book’s illustrations.

A large crowd attended the talk. Pullen’s artwork will be on display at the Brinton through March 30, and his books are available at the Brinton Gift Shop.