Founded in 1974, Cross Gate Gallery is a leading source of the world’s finest sporting art. The Lexington based gallery specializes in equine-related art, and its impressive inventory ranges from 19th and early-20th- century classic works to contemporary paintings and sculpture. Cross Gate’s central Kentucky location makes its focus on sporting and equestrian art a natural one.

Greg Ladd, the gallery’s founder, parlayed an early interest in fine art and his love of thoroughbred racing into what would become one of world’s premier sporting art galleries. Early on, Ladd recognized that Lexington’s stature as the Horse Capital of the World made it an ideal locale to sell sporting art. His timing could not have been better as the 1970s and early ’80s saw tremendous growth in Kentucky’s horse industry. Buyers from around the world flocked to Kentucky to pay robust prices for Thoroughbred yearlings and many developed showplace farms with houses filled with sporting art. In this environment, Ladd found a loyal following of serious collectors from around the world. He is recognized for his expertise in the genre and gracious approach to selling art. In addition to top thoroughbred owners and breeders from around the world, Cross Gate’s clients include (but are certainly not limited to) Keeneland Race Course, Fasig-Tipton Company, Breeders’ Cup, Ltd., and a wealth of other prominent equine organizations.

Ladd is known for his eye for quality and artistic talent; over the years he has nurtured and represented some of the world’s top contemporary sporting artists. Cross Gate regularly exhibits their work in Lexington and at top equine venues such as Saratoga Springs, New York; Aiken, South Carolina; and Wellington, Florida. Cross Gate is also well known for featuring the works of earlier luminaries such as Edward Troye, Sir Alfred Munnings, and Henry Stull. “Our focus is on quality artwork,” says Ladd. “We are confident that we’re offering the finest sporting art available anywhere in the world today. There is a limited supply of really good artwork out there, and the best part of our job is finding that quality work and offering it to our clients.”

From the Gallery’s humble beginnings, Ladd has elevated Cross Gate to a place of international prominence in the global sporting art landscape.