Indians 101: Some Montana artists (museum exhibition)

One of the cornerstones of the mission of the Missoula Art Museum (MAM) in Missoula, Montana, is celebrating contemporary Native artists. MAM’s Contemporary American Indian Art Collection (CAIAC) was established with Jaune Quick-to-See Smith in 1997. According to MAM:

“What began with Quick-to-See Smith’s generous donation has grown into a collection of over 300 works by leading Native artists—now the most requested and loaned part of MAM’s holdings.”

As a part of MAM’s 50^th anniversary, the museum had a special exhibition—Good Relations: Contemporary Native American Artists in the MAM Collection. Included in this special exhibition were several Montana artists.

Sean Chandler (Aaniih)

Indian Inactivism, 2017; oil, paint stick, and pencil on canvas

Jenesse Hilton (Piikani)

Raven and Competition, 1994; acrylic, paper, leather, beads on canvas

John Well-Off-Man (Chippewa Cree)

George Watson, Sr., 1999; oil on linen

Doona Loos (Little Shell Chippewa)

Family Watch, 2001; acrylic on canvas

Kevin Red Star (Apsáalooke)

Crow Indian Girl, 2009; acrylic on canvas

Ernie Pepion (1943-2005; Piikani)

Many Colors, 1996; oil paint and gold leaf on canvas

Susan Stewart (Apsáalooke)

Spirit Shield Series, 1992; pastel and ink on paper

Terran Last Gun (Piikani)

Sunbeam Vitality, 2023; ink and colored pencil on paper

Earl Bliss (1947-1998; Apsáalooke)

Looking Glass, 1978; lithograph

Kathryn Stewart (1951-1993; Apsáalooke)

Star Man Series 1, 1992; pastel on paper

Bently Spang (Tsitsistas/Suhtai)

Culture Cache Series #2, 1993; bronze, bone, stone, resin and rawhide

Neal Parsons (1938-1922; Piikani)

Ghost Dress (old shirt), 2000; acrylic, gel medium, fabric paint and pastel on paper

Note: These photographs were taken on April 10, 2025.

More American Indian art at MAM

Indians 101: Some contemporary American Indian ledger art (museum exhibition)

Indians 101: Some Salish-Kootenai artists (museum exhibition)

Indians 101: Algonquin artist Jason Elliot Clark's Free Land (museum exhibition 1 & 2)

Indians 101: 1855 Hellgate Treaty Signing (museum exhibition)

Indians 101: Recycled Warrior (museum exhibition)

Indians 101: Clubs and a buffalo skull (museum exhibitions)

Indians 101: Flathead Indian history through ledger art (museum exhibition)

Indians 101: Contemporary Indian animal art (museum tour)