Background
An artist at heart, Sandy has always loved animals and nature and has been sketching and photographing both since she was a little girl growing up on Long Island. After pursuing a scientific career in the New York metro area, her love of all things wild led her to relocate to the Rocky Mountain West to be close to the area's wealth of wildlife. During her first visit to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in 1994, she felt a special kinship to the region and was determined to make it her home. She now resides outside the East Entrance of Yellowstone National Park in Wapiti, Wyoming.
Since she left her corporate job, Sandy spends most of her days in the company of the wild horses and wildlife that call Wyoming home. Currently, most of her time is devoted to observing and documenting the wild horses of the McCullough Peaks Herd Management Area, a group of horses she considers like family. After spending more than twelve years with the McCullough Peaks horses, she has developed a deep love and respect for all wild horses, and is determined to use her voice to help protect these noble creatures.
Achievements
GIVING BACK
Because Sandy believes that wild horses should be allowed to live out their lives in Herd Management Areas that have been designated for them, she wanted to do what she could to help keep them wild and free. In 2021, Sandy successfully completed training at the Science and Conservation Center in Billings, Montana, in remote delivery of PZP Immunocontraception in wildlife. She is now a volunteer in good standing, participating in on range remote darting of McCullough Peaks mares with PZP fertility control.In addition, a portion of the proceeds of all Wild at Heart Images sales are donated to wild horse advocacy groups to help protect our wild horses and burros. Thanks to the generosity and support of collectors and donors, over $10,000 was donated to wild horse advocacy groups during 2021 with over $9,000 donated in 2022.
PUBLICATIONS AND AWARDS
Sandy's work has been published by numerous
organizations including National Geographic, National Geographic Kids,
Nature's Best, Outdoor Photographer, Wyoming Wildlife, Ranger Rick Jr.,
National Wildlife, Jackson Hole Magazine, Defenders of Wildlife, The
Guardian, VIA Magazine, Buffalo Field Campaign, American Wild Horse
Campaign, Yellowstone Forever, Cody & Beyond, Outside Bozeman and
various other books, magazines and newspapers both foreign and domestic.
Sandy has received numerous awards and honorable mentions in national photography competitions, including Nature's Best, National Wildlife Federation, World Wildlife Fund, Denver Audubon Society, NANPA and Wyoming Wildlife. Her image of a bison overlooking Hayden Valley, entitled Surveying his Kingdom, won the top pro wildlife prize in the inaugural Nature's Best/Yellowstone Forever photography competition. The image was on display at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. as part of the Nature's Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards Exhibition and at the Yellowstone Art and Photography Center in Yellowstone National Park.
Visit the Wild at Heart Images Gallery
1220 Sheridan Avenue Cody, WY 82414
Hours
Monday-Saturday
10am-6pm
Phone
(406)-360-1070
The Wild at Heart Images Gallery is located within Rockstar Cowgirl and Friends in Cody, Wyoming, and features Sandy Sisti's award-winning photography. Along with metal, canvas and matted/framed prints of some of her best wild horse and wildlife images, you will also find unique gifts including art tiles, coffee mugs, books and t-shirts. Rockstar Cowgirl is located just a few doors down from the historic Irma Hotel and features the inspired jewelry design of Karen Schultz and Co., the original “Rockstar Cowgirl”, as well as, the Wild at Heart Images Gallery, and a collection of work from local artisans. Don’t forget to stop by when you’re in town!