Meet Bobby Wheat
For 14+ years, Bobby Wheat has led one of Las Vegas’s most enduring galleries. A PPA Master of Photography and Certified Sommelier, he brings the same discipline required to ascend the sandstone giants of Red Rock Canyon into every image he creates.
Collected across five continents by Fortune 500 CEOs, PGA Tour players, and other discerning patrons, his large-format film works have been recognized by Robb Report and even showcased by MoMA on its official channels.
Exclusively analogue, Wheat embraces the unmatched quality of a single large-format film exposure, each crafted with the intent of large-scale exhibition in his Downtown Summerlin Gallery. Echoing the edition integrity standards of the earliest photographic masters, he offers the most exclusive edition sizes you will find anywhere in the art world—works defined by rarity, permanence, and craft.
No Place Like Home
Explore a brief history of the gallery below. After nearly 15 years of creating and selling work worldwide, Bobby’s deepest connection remains with Las Vegas.
In 2021, Bobby and his wife, Haley, built a home in Stonebridge, Summerlin, with Red Rock Canyon as their backdrop. It fulfilled a long-held dream for two high-school sweethearts from Oklahoma. In 2024, they celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary.
His passion for climbing has led him into Red Rock Canyon’s hidden corners, revealing the majesty of its sandstone giants and inspiring some of his most powerful images.
From sweeping landscapes of Red Rock to abstract Film Negatives of the Strip and the very walls he climbs, Bobby continues to offer original perspectives that resonate with both traditional collectors and modern art lovers. Of all the places in the world, there truly is no place like home.
The 1982 Vintage
In the same year Europe celebrated a legendary vintage, Bobby Wheat was born in Oklahoma City—foreshadowing a life defined by discipline, patience, and rarity.
2002 | New Horizons
On a 7,000-mile road trip through the American West and Canada, Bobby learned to meter light—unlocking creative control and the obsession that would fuel his career. From the beginning, his photography was rooted in exploration and story.
2002 - 2004 | Odd Jobs and Big Dreams
While working as a musician and wine bar employee, Bobby and his high-school sweetheart, Haley, planned their move west. The dream of a life built on art was already taking shape.
2004 | Committed
Bobby and Haley married and spent a month camping across the Wild West on their honeymoon—uncomfortable, but destiny-defining. Every adventure since has carried that same spirit of risk and reward.
2005 - 2008 | Go West
In Jackson Hole, Bobby worked as an electrician while refining his craft and learning large-format film from National Geographic’s Scott McKinley and gallerist David Brookover. This analogue discipline became the foundation of his career.
2008 | Raising the Stakes
The birth of their daughter, Eisley, brought the move to Las Vegas. Bobby and Haley taught in local schools while Bobby pursued photography with conviction. Family responsibility sharpened his focus to make his art endure.
2011 | Burn the Ships
“If you are not willing to take a monumental risk on yourself, you can’t expect anyone else to do the same.” - BW
At 28, Bobby opened his first gallery in Tivoli Village with just 25 images, resigning his teaching job to fully commit. Collectors still admire the rarity and conviction of these early works.
2011 - 2014 | Building Momentum
“In the early years, I had no pedigree, no clientele to start with. We succeeded by serving our community with humility, gratitude, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. And also quite a bit of luck.” - BW
Early releases like Summer Blues and Goodnight Moon carried the gallery through its infancy. These works now stand as milestones in his catalogue, marking the birth of a loyal collector base.
2014 | New Digs
Profits from Tivoli funded the Downtown Summerlin gallery. Sales repaid the investment within two months. This leap cemented Bobby’s presence in Las Vegas and opened his work to a global audience.
2016 | Among Masters
Bobby became one of the youngest recipients of the PPA Master of Photography designation Professional Photographers of America, the world’s largest organized entity for Professional Photographers with more than 24,000 members from over 50 countries. Collectors saw his credibility elevated to the highest professional standard.
2016 - 2020 | A Style All His Own
“It’s better to fail in originality than succeed in imitation.” - Herman Melville
Rejecting clichés, Bobby pioneered a minimalist, analogue style and launched the Film Negatives series. Innovation, not imitation, became the hallmark of his gallery.
2019 | ‘Wine’ Not?
Earning his Certified Sommelier credential proved that mastery comes from discipline applied over time. The same philosophy defines every exposure in his work—patience rewarded with lasting value.
“My life changed for the best when I stopped trying to be heard and started training to be someone worth listening to.” - BW
2020 NON ESSENTIAL
During pandemic closures, Bobby refused government assistance, doubled down on marketing, and finished the year with record sales. Resilience reinforced the trust collectors place in his gallery.
Thank You, Las Vegas
The Bobby Wheat Gallery was voted one of the Best Art Galleries in Las Vegas by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Recognition that the gallery has become part of the city’s cultural fabric.