He died young…but he wouldn’t stay buried! Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West and True West Magazine combine forces to bring the West’s most notorious outlaw back to life in The Resurrection of Billy the Kid. Bob Boze Bell’s high-voltage historical paintings of what “really” happened during the face off with Thom Ross’s surreal reimaginings of the Kid’s life as a fevered frontier dance. And at the end of it all? A haunting, life-size sculpture of Billy on his death bed by Buckeye Blake, staged like a wake complete with candles, curtains, and a guest book for mourners. Part art show, part séance, part showdown, this is Billy the Kid as you’ve never seen him before.

A Legendary Opening

Western Spirit hosted a thrilling preview event, featuring, first-hand insights from artists and Chief Curator, Dr. Andrew Patrick Nelson. Guests enjoyed the first look through the exhibit, exploring many different interpretations that trace how the real Billy the Kid became a legend of the American West. A fitting celebration of history, storytelling, and community.

The exhibition is open now — experience the legend for yourself.