Jill Soukup Wins Best of Show at Coors Western Art Exhibit with Blue Impulse
On January 8, 2026, at The Lodge at Denver's National Western Center, Jill Soukup, a painter from Colorado, received the Best of Show award during the Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale's Blue Jean Preview and Awards Reception. The event achieved a remarkable milestone, generating over $1.2 million in sales. Soukup's award-winning artwork, Blue Impulse (oil on canvas, 52×43 inches), portrays two draft horses from a 2014 Calgary Stampede event. A participant since 2009, she previously secured the People's Choice Award in 2011, the Southwest Art Magazine Award in 2012, and was named the Coors Featured Artist in 2013. Her painting process included a value study, four color studies, and a gouache study. Soukup holds a BFA from Colorado State University and spent 11 years as a graphic designer before dedicating herself to painting. This information was sourced from the July/August 2026 issue of Artists Magazine.
Key facts
- Jill Soukup won Best of Show at the Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale on January 8, 2026.
- The event was held at The Lodge at Denver's National Western Center.
- The gala set a record with over $1.2 million in sales.
- The winning painting is Blue Impulse (oil on canvas, 52×43 inches).
- The painting depicts two draft horses from a 2014 Calgary Stampede competition.
- Soukup has exhibited at the Coors since 2009, winning People's Choice in 2011 and Southwest Art Magazine Award in 2012.
- She was the Coors Featured Artist in 2013.
- Soukup earned a BFA from Colorado State University and worked as a graphic designer for 11 years.
Entities
Artists
- Jill Soukup
- Sophy Brown
Institutions
- Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale
- National Western Center
- Colorado State University
- Artists Magazine
- Southwest Art Magazine
Locations
- Denver
- United States
- Calgary
- Canada