Born in Honolulu during WWII, Art Reed started working with leather in 1961 in Las Cruces NM. He apprenticed at the renowned Porter Saddlery while attending college at NM State. Art continued to develop his craft while stationed at Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, AL, serving in the Field Artillery from 1966-1969.

The Art Reed brand was already well recognized by 1970 and some of his customers include the great John Wayne and cowboys on the Four 6’s, Matador, Tongue River and Guitar Ranches, the Pitch Fork Land and Cattle Co., and many others. The world famous Hardin Simmons University Six White Horses program is a regular customer for repairs and tack, and their globe trotting Cowboy Band has more than eighty pairs of Arts chaps. Art’s specialty is working for the authentic working cowboy and the discriminating rider.

Art has been featured in Texas Highways and Southern Living magazines, The Abilene Reporter-News, The Cowboy Boot Book (1992) and numerous websites. His sales booth at the annual Western Heritage Classic in Abilene, Texas draws hundreds of cowboys, local folks and visitors from far and wide.