Morphy’s appoints Kim Martindale, 50-year veteran in Western and Native American art-show production, to the position of chief event consultant

Martindale brings vast, specific experience to his new role and will focus on astutely developing Morphy’s Old West Show & Auction series held in Las Vegas and Santa Fe

DENVER, Pa. – Dan Morphy, founder and president of Morphy Auctions, today announced the appointment of renowned Western art and antique show promoter Kim Martindale to the position of chief event consultant. Over the past several years, Morphy’s, an international firm headquartered in Pennsylvania, has magnified its presence in Western, tribal and ethnographic art with the acquisition of the Las Vegas Old West Show & Auction and the Santa Fe Old West Show & Auction. With his incomparable track record as a specialist event promoter, Martindale is infinitely qualified to advise and guide Morphy’s show production and marketing team as they scale and improve the company’s Western show series.

Dan Morphy, founder and president of Morphy Auctions, explained why the decision was made to approach Martindale about a senior-level consultancy. “With the Las Vegas and Santa Fe shows running at a robust pace, we felt the logical next step would be to identify and enlist a high-caliber industry insider with impeccable professional credentials and an advanced knowledge of show promotion and long-range show development. We found all of those qualities in Kim Martindale,” Morphy said.

Based in Los Angeles and widely acknowledged as one of the art world’s premier experts in his chosen field, Martindale is no stranger to either top-tier Western art or ethical trade practices. He has, himself, established and produced some of the country’s most prestigious and successful specialty shows and is a founding and current Board member of the Antique Tribal Arts Dealers Association (ATADA). 

Martindale planted his roots in the Western art world at the age of 16, helping to launch the Whitehawk Antique Indian & Ethnographic Art show (Santa Fe, N.M.). By the time he was 18, he had taken over production of the event, which he would later acquire. Over the years to follow, Martindale insightfully divided it into three separate spinoff entities: the Antique American Indian Art Show, the Antique Ethnographic Art Show, and the Santa Fe Old West Show. He continued to operate the trio of shows until the late 1980s/early 1990s and still owns and produces the original Whitehawk show, now in its 47th year. 

Together with long-time partner John Morris, who passed away in November 2023, Martindale co-produced the Objects of Art & American Indian/Tribal Santa Fe. From 2010, they also produced the San Francisco Tribal & Textile Art Show and the American Indian Art Show/San Francisco, both of which enjoyed a 38-year run and now continue as online virtual shows. In 2022, Martindale spearheaded the Indigenous Celebration NM 2022 (IC22) alongside JoAnn Balzer, Bill Butler, Felipe Colon, and George Rivera, in an initiative that unites 40+ New Mexico-based art organizations.

Beyond New Mexico, Martindale’s promotional ventures have included the Tribal Art Show held in association with the Denver Art Museum; and the Scottsdale Antiques and Fine Art Show, Emerging Artists, and ARTscottsdale, all presented in association with the Phoenix Art Museum and Art and Antiques magazine. 

Martindale also left his indelible mark on California’s art scene, producing the Santa Monica Indian Art Show, the San Francisco show Ethnic Visions, and the Marin American Indian Art Show, known to collectors as simply “the Marin Show.” He created the first LA Art Show, one of the world’s most prestigious events of its type, and was its producer for 25 years. Additionally, he served as a co-chair (with Ron Hartwig of the J. Paul Getty Trust) of the Los Angeles Arts Month Committee and was a formative partner in the establishment of January as “Los Angeles Arts Month.” 

Commenting on his new association with Morphy’s, Martindale said, “I’m excited to join Morphy’s in this collaborative project because there’s a need for more high-quality shows and the development of existing shows. We need shows because there’s nothing like seeing art in person. With the experience I’ve amassed over nearly 50 years of event promotion, I hope to offer ideas and assets that will have a positive impact on the future of Morphy’s Western shows.”

Dan Morphy remarked, “We’re thrilled that Kim has agreed to join us as a senior consultant. His knowledge, reputation and incomparable experience in the Western and Native American arts sector make him absolutely unique. We are fortunate to be able to benefit from his expertise.”

To contact Morphy Auctions, call 877-968-8880 or email [email protected]. Visit Morphy’s online at www.morphyauctions.com.