JACKSON, Wyo. — Jackson Hole is considered home to some of the best trout fishing in the world, with access to populations of native Snake River cutthroat trout, Yellowstone cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and brook trout. As a cornerstone of community heritage, trout have come to represent the landscape and character of Jackson Hole through art.
According to Jackson Hole Public Art (JHPA), which commissioned a site-specific trout piece for the town’s Orvis building in 2017, trout art honors the community’s passion for both fly fishing and conservation work protecting local scenic waterways.
Nicole Gaitan, the Jackson artist chosen for the Orvis building’s JHPA commission, says fly fishing has always been a large part of her life growing up here. For her, the movement of fish is what makes it a particularly unique, inspiring subject.
“It’s different than any other animal, and you can really get creative when depicting them,” Gaitan says.
According to Gaitan, inspiration to depict fly fishing for Orvis also came from witnessing it become a primary reason so many people vacation and live in Jackson. Gaitan considers her trout art more impressionistic in style, allowing the viewer to make their own interpretations as to what species of fish she’s depicting to connect it to their individual experiences.
Nate Bennett, a fly fishing guide and artist who founded Teton Fly Fishing, sees a strong connection between getting out on the water and wanting to commemorate it. Bennett says his fly fishing clients are the primary buyers of his art, seeking a permanent reminder of their experiences. Bennett notes that as fish mounts have become less popular, trout paintings are now a great way to hang something up to honor those place-based memories.
According to Bennett, his paintings are inspired by photos he takes during fishing season. He says from there he’ll enhance the features he finds interesting about the fish, particularly the colors.
“You look at the trout, or any fish for that matter, and the colors are amazing,” Bennett says. “They’re just beautiful.”
Shannon Marie Schacht, a professional wildlife artist in Jackson, says she also finds inspiration in the colors; she typically references photos of fish given to her by local wildlife photographers to create her depictions.
With wildlife at the epicenter of Jackson Hole culture, trout represent facets of valley life, work and sport. The contribution of waterways to the community and conservation of Jackson Hole speaks volumes from the canvas, where the art of outdoor tradition is being kept front and center.
This story originally appeared in the 2024 Locals’ Guidebook. Pick up a copy of the 2025 Locals’ Guidebook today!
