Sandra Jones Campbell’s unique paintings are on display at Spaghetti Western Saloon
The Spaghetti Western Saloon is showcasing the work of Yucca Valley painter Sandra Jones Campbell in a vibrant exhibition that runs through August 31, 2025. A public reception for the artist will be held Saturday, June 14, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
The exhibition features archival pigment prints from Campbell’s Roundup series—portraits drawn from a century of Pendleton rodeo history—as well as original acrylics depicting social settings with wit, warmth, and layered nuance.
“First, people see them as humorous,” Campbell says, “but then they read the title—Party Pooper, Looking for a Bar Fight—and realize it’s more than just fun. It’s a reflection of who we are together.”
Known for her expressive figures and bold palettes, Campbell’s influences include German Expressionists Max Beckmann and George Grosz, along with the humor and caricature style of Mad Magazine, which she says had a big impact on her as a child. “I just loved it—the quirky people, the satire. It probably influenced me more than anything.”
Originally from Eastern Oregon, Campbell began her career in Portland and was a fixture at the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts for over 30 years. In 2010, she was commissioned by the city of Pendleton to create a series for their 100th anniversary Roundup, working from a trove of vintage black-and-white photographs.
Since relocating to Yucca Valley in 2019, Campbell has embraced the high desert’s open space and creative spirit. Her paintings—whether depicting cowboys from 1910 or boisterous women in boxing gloves—highlight what she calls “the collective energy of people, agitated or joyful, always on the verge of something.”
The show is on view Thursday through Monday from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Spaghetti Western Saloon, 50048 Twentynine Palms Highway, Morongo Valley.
