article by Morgan Williams | Photos by Barbara Van Cleve

It’s been said that in riding a horse, we borrow freedom, and if that’s true, Barbara Van Cleve has been lending liberty through her lens for the last several decades. A self-taught, critically acclaimed Western photographer, Van Cleve has been capturing snapshots of ranching in the American West, often from horseback, for nearly 80 years.

Raised on a family ranch just outside of Big Timber, Montana, Van Cleve built a life around  her two great loves: horses and photography. She received her first camera at the age of eleven. By her own admission, she struggled to draw or paint, so she turned to photography as her preferred form of artistic expression. Early on, the cost of prints taught her to be thoughtful and selective. And, at 5’3, she quickly discovered that being on horseback provided both literal and figurative perspective. Many of her photographs were shot from the saddle, and this became a hallmark of her work. 

No one expected her to make a living as a photographer. In theVan Cleve household, education was a core value, so when Barbara set off to college, she pursued a career in academia. Becoming an educator satisfied her family’s expectations, and most importantly, gave her three to four months each year to return to the ranch, camera in hand.

For Van Cleve, ranching has always been about a deep connection between land, animals, and labor. She grew up watching her mom drive teams of horses and work long days alongside her dad. She says few people truly understand the realities of ranching, and how much women contribute to life on the ranch. But if you ask her what makes a cowgirl, she’ll scoff and tell you that cowgirls are about appearances - it’s ranchers who do the work. Her photography often reflects the grit of women in the West, capturing images of women nursing babies at brandings or loading hay in the snow.

Van Cleve’s career speaks for itself, but it’s worth noting that her first major exhibition opened in the fall of 1985. Since then, she has held over 80 solo exhibitions and participated in more than 120 group exhibitions. Her work is included in both public and private collections across the United States and internationally.

Though an educator by training, Van Cleve says, “I never set out to teach anyone a lesson; I simply wanted to show how wonderful ranching is.” Now at 90 years old, her own eyesight is beginning to fade, but what she hopes most is that her work has helped others learn how to see.

You can learn more about Barbara Van Cleve’s work at

www.barbaravancleve.com

Originally printed in the October 2025 issue of Simply Local Magazine

Never miss an issue, check out SLM's digital editions here!  

related articles: