A bronze sculpture depicting bison by renowned Wyoming artist Chris Navarro has been vandalized in downtown Cheyenne, sparking outrage from local art community members. The artwork, titled "Buffalo Nation," was donated to the city as a memorial to honor a woman's deceased husband and has been temporarily removed from its location on the corner of Pioneer Avenue and West 19th Street for repairs. Local art dealer Harvey Deselms expressed his frustration with the perpetrators, saying he doesn't know if they were "criminals trying to steal it or turds trying to wreck it."
The vandalized sculpture holds special significance as a memorial piece donated by Sue Mecca in honor of her late husband, Ernest. The $6,400 bronze artwork was created by Chris Navarro, a famous Wyoming artist, and was installed on July 16, 2025. Deselms emphasized the emotional impact of the crime, stating that "breaking something that isn't yours is wrong on so many levels, but this sculpture was donated to honor someone's late husband." He questioned how people would feel if someone damaged a memorial honoring their own spouse, parents, or grandparents.
The timing and brazenness of the vandalism has puzzled investigators and community members alike. The sculpture remained untouched from its July installation until this incident, which Deselms believes occurred sometime within the last 10 days before October 31, 2025. What makes the crime particularly bewildering is the sculpture's prominent location directly across from the Laramie County Sheriff's Office, surrounded by two banks and likely multiple security cameras. "It just seems stupid, but criminals aren't smart, I guess," Deselms remarked about the perpetrator's choice of location.
"Buffalo Nation" is part of Cheyenne's ambitious Capitol Avenue Bronze Project, an ongoing initiative that began in 2008 with the goal of installing 100 bronze sculptures throughout downtown Cheyenne. Currently, 82 sculptures are in place, with five more completed and ready for installation, and 10 additional pieces actively being worked on either at foundries or by sculptors. This represents a significant achievement toward the long-held dream shared by Deselms, Wyoming artists, and Cheyenne residents.
Interestingly, the large number of sculptures may actually be deterring vandalism rather than encouraging it. When the project first began with fewer than 10 bronzes installed, there were several notable incidents of vandalism, including one sculpture being stolen outright and others being covered with paint that was easily cleaned off. However, as the collection has grown to over 80 pieces, incidents of vandalism have become increasingly rare. "When there were fewer sculptures, people targeted whichever one would get the most attention," Deselms explained. "Now that there are so many, I think it's dissuaded some vandalism."
The most significant recent damage to a Cheyenne sculpture was actually accidental rather than intentional. A truck crashed into the pedestal of "Sunrise," a $95,000 bronze sculpture in front of Deselms Fine Art, nearly hitting another bronze worth $165,000. "The driver ended up knocking the bronze off the pedestal and stopped just short of hitting the other bronze," Deselms recalled from the January incident. "The important thing is that nobody was hurt and the sculpture could be fixed." He noted that while vehicles have occasionally hit bronze sculptures in Cheyenne, these incidents are typically accidents that damage the cars more than the artworks.
Fortunately, "Buffalo Nation" suffered no permanent damage from the vandalism attempt, though repairs are necessary to ensure its security. The sculpture has been taken to Rocky Mountain Bronze Shop in Cheyenne, where it will be fitted with additional bolts to make it more secure than before. "One bolt broke, and the other was almost broken," Deselms explained. "When we add the third, much larger bolt, it'll add one more point of contact to make it even sturdier than it was before." The enhanced security measures should help prevent future incidents.
The financial and legal implications of the vandalism extend beyond simple repair costs. All bronze sculptures in the Capitol Avenue Bronze Project have been privately funded and donated to the city of Cheyenne, making them official city property covered by municipal insurance policies. "The city takes ownership of them, and then they're on their insurance policy," Deselms noted, adding that he shared information about the incident with Mayor Patrick Collins and assumes a police report has been filed. This means taxpayers ultimately bear the cost of repairs resulting from criminal damage.
Despite this setback, the incident has not dampened enthusiasm for completing the bronze sculpture project. With 93 sculptures either installed or in various stages of completion, the original goal of 100 pieces is well within reach. The project represents years of collaborative effort between artists, donors, and city officials to transform downtown Cheyenne into an outdoor art gallery celebrating Wyoming's cultural heritage and artistic talent.
Deselms issued a stern warning to both the perpetrator and any potential copycats about the serious legal consequences of damaging public art. Given the extensive surveillance coverage in downtown Cheyenne and the classification of the sculptures as city property, vandalism charges could result in felony convictions. "I really doubt that anybody who would go on vandalizing bronze is probably on my friend list, but I just wanted to shame somebody," Deselms said. He suggested that the perpetrator consider turning themselves in, "pleading guilty to stupidity, and paying for the damage, because I don't think you're going to like this felony."
The incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by public art installations across the country, where communities must balance accessibility with security. However, the overall success of Cheyenne's bronze sculpture project, with minimal vandalism incidents across more than 80 installations over several years, demonstrates that public art can thrive when supported by engaged community members and appropriate security measures.
