Office of the Governor
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Arts Commission (KAC) at the Kansas Department of Commerce announced the recipients of the 2026 Kansas Governor’s Arts Awards at its annual ceremony Monday, February 2, at the Docking State Office Building in Topeka.
Among the Legacy winners was Pete Felten, Hays sculptor.
Pete Felten is a 92-year-old (born 1933) limestone sculptor from Hays who has been carving Kansas limestone for nearly 70 years. He first took hammer and chisel in hand in 1957 after serving in the U.S. Navy (1952-1956), where he visited art museums on the east and west coasts and Hawaii. After briefly attending an art league school in New York, he returned to Hays to pursue his career.
His most prominent work includes the eight-foot-tall, approximately 2,000-pound limestone portraits of Amelia Earhart, William Allen White, Arthur Capper, and Dwight Eisenhower that encircle the Kansas Capitol rotunda, installed in 1981. He won the competitive selection process by creating detailed models of each subject. He chose Silverdale limestone from southeastern Kansas for the Capitol work because he believed it to be “the finest Kansas limestone, uniform and excellent for statues.” Notably, he declined to sign the work, explaining “this is Kansas’ work, not mine.”
Ellis County alone contains more than 28 of his limestone sculptures, including well-known figures like Wild Bill Hickok and Buffalo Bill Cody. His first large commissioned piece was a bust of Buffalo Bill Cody at the Hays Public Library (1961). The “Monarch of the Plains” buffalo sculpture at Fort Hays State Historic Site (completed 1967) stands 8 feet high and 10 feet long on an 8-foot base, starting from a 24-ton stone. In 2024, bronze plaques were finally added next to his capitol sculptures to credit him for the work.
“Thanks to the dedicated individuals and organizations in our state who make our communities more vibrant, the arts are thriving in Kansas,” Kelly said. “When creativity is supported and encouraged, we strengthen intergenerational relationships, boost economic innovation, and improve community identity.”
These awards celebrate and recognize Kansas artists, organizations, and communities for leadership in improving quality of life in Kansas and encouraging meaningful creative expression through the arts.
“This group of Kansas artists, art administrators, and advocates we are honoring from across the state continue to have significant and positive impacts on our economy and culture,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce David Toland said. “Kansas is fortunate to have such an array of artists who are eager to take their work to the next level, bringing great benefit and pride to the entire state.”
This year, the recipient of the Governor’s Award, which was presented by Governor Kelly to close out the night, is Joe Walsh, a multi-Grammy Award winning musician and Wichita native who has earned global acclaim for his work with the James Gang, the Eagles, and a successful solo career. In addition to his music career, Walsh founded the veterans nonprofit VetsAid in 2017, which has disbursed more than $4 million to veterans’ services charities to date.
“It’s hard to imagine American rock without the guitar solos, flawless songwriting, and the enduring musical career of Joe Walsh,” Kansas Arts Commission Director Curtis Young said. “Joe’s passion for music, paired with his generosity and philanthropy, makes him the perfect recipient for such a prestigious award.”
This year’s award categories and recipients are:
