Artist Joe Barrington grew up in his dad’s welding shop in Throckmorton, Texas. He graduated from Midwestern State University in 1980 with a BFA in Art with a major in sculpture and a minor in printmaking. Barrington has exhibited widely throughout the west. His images are drawn from a lifetime of living in rural Texas. The people, animals, and objects he creates are all an integral part of the stories he shares with the viewer.  

During a renovation of the Harding Administration building, Barrington was approached by the university president at the time, Dr. Jesse Rogers, to create a sculpture for the long hallway in the building. After looking over the space, Barrington determined a wall piece would fit best in the space.  

He came up with the idea for a piece that would represent the history of hats that were worn in Texas from the time of the Conquistadors to the modern-day cowboy. From this idea, he created the piece that you see today, Hats as Related to Horses in Texas.  

The hats seen in this piece are (right to left):  

Spanish Helmet, Coronado’s Expedition, circa 1540 

Western Trail Drive Hat, circa 1875 

US Calvary Officer’s Hat, circa 1878 

Texican Sombrero, circa 1836 

Waggoner Ranch Cowboy Hat, circa 1975 

Hat from the movie Hud, circa 1955 

Swenson Ranch Cow Counters Hat, circa 1985