Bronze sculptures in the personal studio of Star Liana York dazzle the eyes. In 2024, York hosted an equine photo workshop at her 40-acre ranch called Rancho Verde, south of Abiquiu, N.M., where she and her husband Greg reside. The artist opened up her studio to the participating photographers, giving a glimpse into her 50-year career as a sculptor. Lifelike bronze sculptures of large wild cats lay on the shelves, a horse head with a thick mane blowing in the wind perches above, and her newly developing Legacy, a horse in motion, sits on a pedestal with wheels, as a clump of clay awaits her magical touch to bring it to life. York has been renowned for putting an element of herself and her artistry into each of her creations, giving them their own personality and unique identity.
An Artist’s Journey
Born and raised in Maryland to a ballerina mother and a woodworking father, York’s passion for animals was organic.
“If my mother couldn’t find me she knew exactly where to look—outside with the animals,” York says.
Similar to many young girls growing up, York and her older sister, Nadine, were drawn to horses. At the ages of 14 and 16, they saved up enough money from babysitting to purchase Max, a black Morgan gelding, for $250, including his tack. They boarded him at a neighboring farm for the paltry sum of $30 a month.
York competed in the speed classes at the rodeo, barrel racing, pole bending, and more; and volunteered as a pickup rider, extracting the bronc rider to the back of her horse if they hadn’t hit the dirt before the eight second timer.
In junior high school in Maryland, an art teacher taught York about casting, which led to her creations of miniature horses and fantasy creatures carved out of wax and cast into metals of bronze, silver and gold. Some of her miniature creations were entered into a Scholastic Arts competition and caught the eye of a gallery owner from Chevy Chase, Md., who began to carry them. This marked a pivotal time in York’s career as a young artist.
Throughout her schooling and career, York never let go of her passion for horses and always seemed to find a way to stay close to them. During her attendance at The University of Maryland, where she acquired a Bachelor of Arts degree, she was a hot walker and race horse exerciser at the nearby Bowie racetrack.
Continuing her education, York attended The Institute of Art in Baltimore, Md., followed by the Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington, DC. From 1976 to 1978 she taught metal design and casting as the Artist in Residence at the Prince George Community College in Upper Marlboro, Md.
Headed West
The lack of foundries in the East proved difficult to get her pieces cast in a timely manner, which prompted her move to Santa Fe, N.M., in 1985, where foundries were more abundant.
“In the East, it could take up to a year to get a piece cast,” she says.
Originally settling on a ranch in Chupadero, North West of Santa Fe, N.M., York was introduced to polocrosse by her friend whose mother, Betty Egan, owned the nearby Rancho Encontado. Riders from New Zealand came to compete and York learned about the Maori tribe, who had a cultural tradition of face tattoos. This prompted a trip to New Zealand for further research, which inspired her to create a few pieces depicting the Maori native people.
Back home in New Mexico, York was intrigued by the cultural diversity and history of the Southwest and began to create a series of work depicting Native American and Western culture, including ranch life. This work represents moments in time of the Navajo, Apache, Hopi and Pueblo native peoples, as well as ranch life and the animals in the wild. She strove to freeze moments in time during ceremonies, daily rituals and everyday life that reflected the personality, emotion and uniqueness of her subjects. Even her creations of animals in the wild, especially large cats, have their own personalities and character.
Hiking and riding deep into the canyons of New Mexico, York was introduced to the ancient drawings on rock walls. Petroglyphs, images painted with charcoal and earth pigments, and carved pictographs of ancient animals became the inspiration for her series “Ancient Impressions.” A trip to France gave her the opportunity to review Paleolithic drawings inside caves such as the Dordogne Valley in Lascaux, France, out of which came the creations of her bronze “Rock Art Mare” series, bringing to life in three-dimensional form the ancient portrayals of horse herds, carbon dated at 20,000 to 30,000 years old.
Reflections
York has received countless awards and has had numerous exhibitions, but when asked what her most honored experiences in her artistic career have been, she includes the following: a one-woman show at the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Okla., where she gave a lecture on a topic titled “The Art of Collecting.” It was attended by hundreds. She appreciates being included in Southwest Art magazine’s 30th anniversary edition, titled “30 Artists in 30 Years.” She’s also honored by her induction into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame and Museum in Fort Worth, Texas.
When asked which piece she is most proud of, York says she can’t choose.
“It seems to me that each series, each individual sculpture, somehow speaks to, or more accurately reflects, a different aspect of my life’s journey, via my emotional landscape,” she says. “Looking back over my body of work is like revisiting different states of mind I experienced throughout my life, shaping my path as I moved through the years. For me, I believe my sculpting is motivated by my passions in life, which are many and varied.”
Equine Inspiration
While in New Zealand, York met Greg, a horse trainer. They remained friends for a number of years, including when he moved to the United States in 1995. The two married in 2017, and they now live on a 40-acre ranch called Rancho Verde.
“We called it Rancho Verde because it was a green oasis in the desert,” York says.
For a long time the couple competed in ranch sorting together, but now York enjoys her time in the saddle riding the vast surrounding trails in The Santa Fe National Forest and often helps Greg train the young horses.
In her studio, which she designed and built at the ranch, York uses her fingers to add her magic touch to her newest creation, “Legacy,” a tribute to her horse, Mariah.
“Mariah lived to be 38 years old, and I had her since she was 5,” York says.
York and Mariah participated in many disciplines together, but both enjoyed polocrosse the most.
“Legacy” is the first creation that York has modeled after her own horse, and it made its first appearance in January of 2025 at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colo., as part of the Coors Western Art Exhibit and Sale.
York’s talent is bolstered by her humble demeanor. She views her life as an artistic experience. With a true connection to her subjects, she gives each of them their own unique expression and character. She says staying true to her passion for horses has kept her grounded both mentally and physically, which you can see just by watching her comfort and connection around her horses and in the saddle.
Where to Find Star Liana York’s Art
Star Liana York’s past works can be found in the Sorrel Sky Gallery in Santa Fe, N.M., and Durango, Colo.; the Medicine Man Gallery in Tucson, Ariz.; the Horse in Motion Gallery in Tubac, Ariz.; and The Signature Gallery in Scottsdale, Ariz.
This article about Star Liana York appeared in the Summer 2025 issue of Western Life Today magazine. Click here to subscribe!
