Michael Westergard Sold at Auction Prices

Michael, a self taught sculptor, makes his home in the extreme Northeast part of Montana where he and his wife Patricia operate the Westergard-Ragucci Bronze Studio. Located just north of the Fort Peck Assiniboine/Sioux Reservation and historic Forts Union and Buford on the Missouri River, the area is rich in history from the prehistoric man through the Indian War period to the early day outlaws. Being raised in this area on a grain and livestock operation, Michael became aware at an early age of the old Indian camp sites, buffalo kills and vision quest sites, etc. It was this experience combined with his intense interest in early history of the West that helped form what was to become the nucleus of his work. His bronzes portray the history, wildlife and people of the American West in not only an artistic manner but also with accuracy, detail and a respect for the subject.

His bronzes have been subjects of magazine articles and editorials, they have also received serveral awards for excellence including Best of Show, Purchase Award, People's Choice and selected for the Best of Scottsdale Show, Scottsdale, Arizona. His bronze "The Guardian" was also selected to appear on the front cover of the "The Idaho Horseman" magazine. Most recently he has been invited to show his bronzes at the Governor's Mansion in Helena, Montana and the new Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center located at Washburn, North Dakota. He has had three one-man exhibitions in Germany and his work can be found in collections throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe, including the collections of noted historians and Lord Freiderick Wilhelm of Wied (Germany) descendent of Prince Maximilian of the Maximilian/Bodmer expedition up the Missouri River in 1833-34 which recorded information on the native peoples and the land. His bronzes are also in the permanent collection of the U.S. Air Force, National Park Service (including Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument, Crow Agency, Montana), the Favell Museum, Klamath Falls, Oregon and the Michael Harrison Western History Research Center, University of California at Davis which houses the most extensive collection of his work.