Tanden Launder - Contemporary Western Artist - Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Howdy from Idaho, my name is Tanden Launder. I’m a self-taught, multi-medium artist based in Coeur d’Alene, where creativity has been a lifelong pursuit. My journey has taken many forms, from leather craftsmanship to the restoration of historic buildings, but it’s in the act of bringing imagination to life that I find my truest work.
As a contemporary Western artist, my focus is on creating visual biographies of the American West and its iconic figures. Growing up without a TV, I learned to make my own fun—immersed in a well-stocked art room and a steady diet of biographies. Figures like Buffalo Bill, Amelia Earhart, John Dillinger, and Sitting Bull sparked my imagination early on and now serve as inspiration—and even literal material—in my work. Pages from these books often find their way into my layered collage backgrounds.
I love to create pieces that reveal themselves over time. My process is rooted in what I call “the draw” that immediate visual hook that invites you closer, where you then begin to notice more and more: a clipping of a 1930s newspaper, a surprising blend of mediums, or a hidden historical detail. The goal is to create artwork that feels both grounded and dynamic, revealing deeper narratives the longer you spend with it.
I often explore other mediums simply to channel creative overflow, but the heart of my practice remains the same: to tell stories visually, to celebrate the past, and to keep the legends of the West alive through layered, evolving works.
Thank you for your interest—I hope you enjoy the journey through my work.
