Boom Town
West Texas – 2025
“I am far from alone in my fascination with what life must have been like in an early 20th century boom town, whether the boom was in gold, copper, silver or oil. The Westerns and period dramas we watch on our computers, or indeed in cinemas in the good old days, paint a dark picture of men with disposable moral fibre and transient communities, where life is cheap and true friendships rare.
There seemed very little by way of law and order and every day could well be an individual’s last. Cowboy capitalists mingled with snake oil salesmen and a whole host of other cartoon characters with no compass as to what was right and what was wrong. These were avaricious, single-minded communities where vice did not lie under the surface – it was right there in main street.
That makes for good material for a storyteller. I think Taylor Sheridan’s 1923 – shot in the copper boom town of Butte, Montana – conveys all the right vibes.
The Texas Oil boom between 1900 and the depression, catapulted Texas from a rural farming state, to one of America’s most industrialised, in just one generation. That could not have come without many stories.
Texas was and always will be the spiritual home of the cowboy: the custodian of the last frontier; the emblematic figurehead of Americana. How exactly did they fit into the oil boom when their life was cattle and ranches?
My sense is that they would have fitted in seamlessly and added some dignity, work ethic and class to the whole affair. Cowboys are pragmatists.“
-David Yarrow
Available Sizes
Large - Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image Size: 47” x 103" in (119 cm x 262 cm)
- Framed Image: 62” x 118” in (158 cm x 300 cm)
Standard - Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image Size: 36” x 77” in (91 cm x 196 cm)
- Framed Image: 51” x 92” in (130 cm x 134 cm)
We ship worldwide and use a multitude of providers to safely deliver your artwork. Domestic delivery and installation may also be available via Hilton Contemporary’s private art shuttle. Please inquire.
Boom Town (Colour)
West Texas – 2025
“I am far from alone in my fascination with what life must have been like in an early 20th century boom town, whether the boom was in gold, copper, silver or oil. The Westerns and period dramas we watch on our computers, or indeed in cinemas in the good old days, paint a dark picture of men with disposable moral fibre and transient communities, where life is cheap and true friendships rare.
There seemed very little by way of law and order and every day could well be an individual’s last. Cowboy capitalists mingled with snake oil salesmen and a whole host of other cartoon characters with no compass as to what was right and what was wrong. These were avaricious, single-minded communities where vice did not lie under the surface – it was right there in main street.
That makes for good material for a storyteller. I think Taylor Sheridan’s 1923 – shot in the copper boom town of Butte, Montana – conveys all the right vibes.
The Texas Oil boom between 1900 and the depression, catapulted Texas from a rural farming state, to one of America’s most industrialised, in just one generation. That could not have come without many stories.
Texas was and always will be the spiritual home of the cowboy: the custodian of the last frontier; the emblematic figurehead of Americana. How exactly did they fit into the oil boom when their life was cattle and ranches?
My sense is that they would have fitted in seamlessly and added some dignity, work ethic and class to the whole affair. Cowboys are pragmatists.“
-David Yarrow
Available Sizes
Large - Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image Size: 47” x 103" in (119 cm x 262 cm)
- Framed Image: 62” x 118” in (158 cm x 300 cm)
Standard - Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image Size: 36” x 77” in (91 cm x 196 cm)
- Framed Image: 51” x 92” in (130 cm x 134 cm)
We ship worldwide and use a multitude of providers to safely deliver your artwork. Domestic delivery and installation may also be available via Hilton Contemporary’s private art shuttle. Please inquire.
Bison Oil and Gas
West Texas – 2025
“Slightly unintentionally, this tableau greedily features four of the most emblematic symbols of 20th century Americana: the bison; the cowboy; the Ford Model T and oil derricks. Each have played their role in the growth of the country and in ensuring that the American dream has legs.
This photograph was taken in a boom oil town site we built in West Texas, which is appropriate as the vast Permian Basin is one of the reasons why America is self-sufficient. The Permian alone looks after 20% of American daily oil demand.
For over 100 years now, the oil industry has been at the heart of the economic success of Texas and anyone with a modicum of common sense knows that this is unequivocally something to celebrate. I am delighted that Taylor Sheridan did exactly this, in his own inimitable way, with his highly watchable series Landman.
The history of the oil industry, and the history of the world in the last 140 years, are difficult to decouple; it remains the world’s most important commodity and the character rich industry is often played out in some of the world’s more off beat locations. That is why we are drawn to it with our storytelling, there is a rich amount of material, especially if we go back in time and make it a period production.
The bison has, of course, also played a major role in American history. There have been some dicey moments for this mammal in the West, but all is now good and I thought it would be a fun prop to include on set. Bizarrely we have got to know a very charming guy in Denver who owns a business called Bison Oil and Gas – so we were left with no choice for the name of this photograph.“
-David Yarrow
Available Sizes
Large - Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image Size: 45” x 103" in (114 cm x 262 cm)
- Framed Image: 60” x 118” in (152 cm x 300 cm)
Standard - Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image Size: 34” x 77” in (86 cm x 196 cm)
- Framed Image: 49” x 92” in (124 cm x 134 cm)
We ship worldwide and use a multitude of providers to safely deliver your artwork. Domestic delivery and installation may also be available via Hilton Contemporary’s private art shuttle. Please inquire.
Bison Oil and Gas (Colour)
West Texas – 2025
“Slightly unintentionally, this tableau greedily features four of the most emblematic symbols of 20th century Americana: the bison; the cowboy; the Ford Model T and oil derricks. Each have played their role in the growth of the country and in ensuring that the American dream has legs.
This photograph was taken in a boom oil town site we built in West Texas, which is appropriate as the vast Permian Basin is one of the reasons why America is self-sufficient. The Permian alone looks after 20% of American daily oil demand.
For over 100 years now, the oil industry has been at the heart of the economic success of Texas and anyone with a modicum of common sense knows that this is unequivocally something to celebrate. I am delighted that Taylor Sheridan did exactly this, in his own inimitable way, with his highly watchable series Landman.
The history of the oil industry, and the history of the world in the last 140 years, are difficult to decouple; it remains the world’s most important commodity and the character rich industry is often played out in some of the world’s more off beat locations. That is why we are drawn to it with our storytelling, there is a rich amount of material, especially if we go back in time and make it a period production.
The bison has, of course, also played a major role in American history. There have been some dicey moments for this mammal in the West, but all is now good and I thought it would be a fun prop to include on set. Bizarrely we have got to know a very charming guy in Denver who owns a business called Bison Oil and Gas – so we were left with no choice for the name of this photograph.“
-David Yarrow
Available Sizes
Large - Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image Size: 45” x 103" in (114 cm x 262 cm)
- Framed Image: 60” x 118” in (152 cm x 300 cm)
Standard - Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image Size: 34” x 77” in (86 cm x 196 cm)
- Framed Image: 49” x 92” in (124 cm x 134 cm)
We ship worldwide and use a multitude of providers to safely deliver your artwork. Domestic delivery and installation may also be available via Hilton Contemporary’s private art shuttle. Please inquire.
