Horses in Art: How Equine Imagery Has Inspired Artists Throughout History
Exploring the enduring power, symbolism, and emotional resonance of horses in artistic expression across cultures and centuries.
The Kentucky Derby is today, marking the first leg of the prestigious Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. This historic three-part event kicks off at Churchill Downs in Kentucky, then moves to the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore, Maryland, and concludes with the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, New York. While we won’t delve into the full history of horse racing, it’s important to note that the sport dates back to ancient civilizations—with organized chariot races in ancient Greece and Rome, and mounted horse races in Central Asia and Arabia long before the modern racetracks we know today.
What’s particularly fascinating is the deep, centuries-long connection between horses and the visual arts. From cave paintings to contemporary sculpture, horses have galloped across canvases and cultures as symbols of power, grace, and motion. So, with the Triple Crown season officially underway, it felt like the perfect moment to explore the enduring relationship between horses and the art world—and why horses continue to captivate both artists and collectors alike.
Horses from the Hillaire Chamber, Chauvet Cave. Photo courtesy of the French Ministry of Culture and Communication, Regional Direction for Cultural Affairs, Rhône-Alpes region, Regional Department of Archeology.
The Allure of Horse Racing in Art
Horse racing presents a rare intersection of grace, tension, movement, and ritual—elements that naturally draw in artists. The visual drama of the sport offers endless opportunities to explore motion, form, and emotion. Whether it's the moment before the gates fly open, the burst of energy mid-race, or the still intensity of a horse being saddled, each scene holds a narrative rich in symbolism and visual intrigue.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, equestrian art gained popularity as both a document of social prestige and a celebration of the animal's majesty. British artist George Stubbs, renowned for his anatomical precision, helped define the genre with paintings that portrayed horses as noble, muscular, and deeply expressive beings. Meanwhile, Edgar Degas brought a different sensibility to the subject. His impressionistic studies of jockeys and racetracks captured fleeting moments, highlighting movement and mood rather than form alone. These early pioneers set the tone for a lineage of artists who continue to find inspiration in the equine world.
Edgar Degas, Three Jockeys, Oil on canvas, c.1900 (The Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Graceful yet full of energy, racehorses and their vividly dressed jockeys were a recurring fascination for Degas. In this pastel, he injects a touch of humor: the horse in the left foreground stretches its neck as if to graze or unseat its rider—actions racehorses are specifically trained to avoid—while nearby figures look on. This piece is the final of three iterations developed over a twelve-year span. Notably, Degas later added the horse and jockey on the right, partially covering an earlier rider and mount still faintly visible beneath.
Why Artists Are Drawn to Horses
At the heart of this artistic fascination is the horse itself. Horses have long symbolized power, freedom, elegance, and emotional depth—qualities that allow artists to explore human themes through animal form. The challenge of rendering a horse's anatomy, energy, and spirit pushes artists to new heights of technique and sensitivity.
In the context of horse racing, this fascination deepens. The connection between horse and rider, the choreography of the race, and the atmosphere of the track create dynamic compositions brimming with tension and rhythm. Artists are not only capturing a sport—they’re capturing a relationship, a culture, and a tradition that transcends the racetrack.
One contemporary artist continuing this legacy is Arvay Adams, a Baltimore native and home of the Preakness Stakes. Known for merging the worlds of sports and fine art, Adams portrays the spirit of horse racing through a modern lens. His piece Uppity is a striking example—depicting a powerful image of a Black jockey poised atop a racehorse. But the work is more than a celebration of motion and form—it’s a statement on history, identity, and visibility.
Arvay Adams, Uppity, Mixed media on paper mounted on canvas, 40 x 60in Diptych, 2023. (Courtesy of Winkel Gallery & Artist)
Through Uppity, Adams draws attention to the often-overlooked legacy of Black jockeys in American horse racing. In the early days of organized racing in the United States, Black jockeys were not only present but dominant. In fact, the first Kentucky Derby in 1875 was won by a Black jockey, Oliver Lewis, and 15 of the first 28 running’s of the Derby were won by Black riders. Despite their immense skill and contributions, systemic racism and segregation eventually pushed Black jockeys out of the sport by the early 20th century, and their stories were largely erased from the mainstream narrative.
By placing a Black jockey at the center of his composition, Adams reclaims this legacy and confronts the erasure. The title Uppity carries layered meaning—reclaiming a word historically used to demean Black excellence and pride, while simultaneously asserting the power, dignity, and rightful place of Black figures within the racing world and the broader canon of sporting imagery. His work is both an homage and a corrective—shining a light on a hidden chapter of history while pushing forward a contemporary dialogue around representation, power, and cultural memory in sports and art.
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The Psychology of Collecting Horse Artwork
Why do so many collectors gravitate toward horse-related art? The answer lies in both aesthetic appreciation and deeper psychological symbolism. For some, equestrian artworks evoke nostalgia or personal memories of the racetrack. For others, they represent ideals—freedom, vitality, determination—that speak to the human experience.
Susan Rothenberg, Butterfly, Acrylic on canvas, 1976. (National Gallery of Art)
On a more subconscious level, horse art can convey a sense of prestige and status. Historically linked with aristocracy, racing culture, and refined taste, horses in art have often been associated with wealth, nobility, and tradition. Collecting such works becomes a way of signaling identity and sophistication, while also connecting with a subject that is both emotionally resonant and visually commanding.
But the appeal isn’t only traditional. Contemporary collectors are increasingly drawn to new interpretations of the equestrian form—works that explore issues of identity, cultural heritage, gender, and race through the lens of horse racing. Today’s equine art can be bold, experimental, and thought-provoking, expanding far beyond classic portraiture and decorative appeal.
President Obama meets with national security aides John Brennan, foreground, and Denis McDonough in front of a painting titled Butterfly by Susan Rothenberg. Pete Souza/The White House
The Battle Horse Reimagined in Contemporary Art
From dynamic mixed-media interpretations to abstract reimaginings of equine power, contemporary artists are redefining how battle horses are portrayed. Using modern materials and experimental techniques, they explore the symbolism of strength, struggle, and resilience, breathing new life into a historic subject once rooted in tradition and conquest.
Many artists are using this subject to push boundaries and start conversations. Whether traditional or contemporary, equine art has found a lasting place in both private collections and public exhibitions.
One such artist is Tracey Halvorsen, whose work challenges conventional portrayals of horses and elevates them as symbols of innocence, strength, and human conflict. Halvorsen’s interest in horses began from an aesthetic standpoint—she was drawn to their elegance, sensitivity, and sheer power. But over time, her perspective evolved into something more profound and reflective.
Tracey Halvorsen, Little Man Big Horse, Oil on canvas, 36 x 36in. 2024 (Courtesy of Winkel Gallery & Artist)
“I’ve always loved horses purely from an aesthetic perspective—they are beautiful creatures: elegant, strong, and sensitive,” she explains. “But what fascinates me is the contrast between that beauty and how they’ve been historically used—by the military, the police, for labor, and in war. In classical paintings and films, they’re often portrayed in violent, chaotic human scenes—yet they remain blameless, forced into roles they never chose.”
Rather than painting idyllic scenes of horses in peaceful meadows, Halvorsen’s work explores the horse as a spiritual symbol and tragic figure. “They’re powerful animals, yet that strength is often what makes them vulnerable. I paint horses as innocent actors in man’s worst productions—as representations of purity, goodness, and lack of autonomy. They are victims, not just of circumstance, but of humanity’s recurring impulse to corrupt strength for violent means.”
Her approach adds a deeply emotional and critical lens to the genre—one that resonates with modern audiences seeking art that speaks to ethics, history, and empathy. Through her bold compositions, Halvorsen invites viewers to reflect not only on the horse as an icon but as a silent witness to centuries of human conflict and ambition.
Conclusion
The horse’s influence on art is more than decorative—it’s symbolic, emotional, and profoundly human. Across centuries, artists have turned to the horse not only as a subject of beauty and power but as a reflection of ourselves: our aspirations, instincts, resilience, and vulnerability. Through every brushstroke or sculpted form, the horse becomes a vessel for storytelling—embodying themes of freedom, labor, war, nobility, and connection.
For collectors and admirers, equine art offers more than visual appeal—it offers a deep, often intimate bond to history and culture. From cave paintings to contemporary installations, the image of the horse has galloped across artistic movements and materials, adapting to shifting ideas of identity, power, and purpose. Whether charging through a battlefield, resting in pastoral stillness, or abstracted into motion and muscle, the horse remains an enduring muse—running wild through the imagination of artists and the heart of art itself.
Wade Johnston, untitled, Digital artwork.