It comes as no surprise that the state of Montana would be a place for artists and creatives of all walks of life to find refuge. With all the diverse, natural beauty—from the Great Plains to the Rocky Mountains and Glacier and Yellowstone national parks—there’s no shortage of inspiration, especially for those who are taken with the Western lifestyle. Cowboy culture is still alive in the “Treasure State,” as are many artists influenced by its grand allure.
Glacier National Park, St. Mary Boat Tour. Courtesy Glacier Country Tourism. Montana is famously known for artist Charles M. Russell’s renditions of the culture, creating a pathway for a deeper appreciation for the land and its people. “Charles Marion Russell (1864–1926) masterfully captured the art and soul of the American West through 4,000-plus recorded works featuring oil paintings, watercolor, sculpture and writing,” explains the C.M. Russell Museum, based in Great Falls, Montana. “Russell achieved this by establishing an inspired visual record celebrating Indigenous culture, Western narratives, grand landscapes and majestic wildlife scenes. While his art is considered historic, his spirit is timeless.”
Other prominent, historic artists like Maynard Dixon (1875-1946) also felt the pull of Montana, and the American West as a whole. During a visit, finding himself at the Flathead Indian Reservation north of Missoula, Dixon was inspired to create several paintings, including Flathead Indian & Pony and Flathead Brave, notes the Russell Museum.
In yet another excursion to Montana, where Dixon met with Charlie and his wife Nancy—Charlie later refers to him as “Friend Dixon”— the museum notes that “in a letter to an artist friend in 1917 Maynard stated, ‘I did not think too much of the mountains, but the Blackfeet are the best Indians I have seen yet, bar none.’ Storytellers, Evening on the Blackfeet Reservation, and Prairie Eveningwere inspired by this trip.”
Located in Arlee, Montana. Courtesy Glacier Country Tourism. Today, we see many talented artists walking in the footsteps of these masters, carrying on their legacies while celebrating their work. One organization uniting with the past is the Russell Skull Society of Artists, which was created by the C.M. Russell Museum in 2013. The group is made up of 23 members that “celebrates the themes and traditions of Charles M. Russell (1864–1926) and his contemporaries in their portrayal of the Old West.” Artists Don Oelze and Troy Collins are members, and both live and work in Montana, creating breathtaking Western works that will also stand the test of time.
As you take in the natural scenery on your next visit to Montana, make sure to stop by the many art hubs that artists like Dixon and Russell helped cultivate. They are in places like Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Kalispell, Whitefish and Missoula.
Continue reading throughout this section to hear from artists and art institutions that are keeping the spirit of Montana alive.
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Coila Evans
Roundup, MT
(406) 697-2758
www.coilaevans.com
Where contemporary meets the traditional is artist Coila Evans, an oil painter based in Roundup, Montana. Her work focuses on bringing awareness to the land and life of the West. She is a lifelong learner who is interested in the complex history and lives of her subjects. She shares those stories through her work.
Coila Evans, Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil, triptych, oil on hand-prepared ACM panel, 21 x 15"
Coila Evans, Family Tradition, oil on hand-prepared ACM panel, 20 x 20"
Coila Evans, Tres Amigos, oil on Artefex ACM panel, 32 x 40"
Utilizing negative space, the quiet rhythm in these elegant and impactful paintings pay tribute to the subject by removing all that is unnecessary to tell the story. Her aim is 100 years ahead. She works with the finest materials and makers in the American West, creating work to be enjoyed today and revered for generations to come.
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Colt Idol
coltridol45@gmail.com
www.coltidolart.com
Lifetime Montana resident Colt Idol has always been enamored by the West and all that it represents. After an injury-plagued high school and collegiate basketball career, Idol decided to pursue art full time. With the guidance of his father, Dick Idol, Colt was able to develop his abilities and advance his knowledge of art—he had undoubtedly found his passion.
Colt Idol, Range Riders, oil on linen, 40 x 72". Available now at the Dick Idol Signature Gallery in Whitefish, Montana.
Idol is now 32 years old and lives in Whitefish, Montana, with his wife Jennifer, their 5-year-old son and newborn daughter. Colt exhibits his work in galleries and auctions throughout the Western United States.
Colt Idol, Heart and Soul, oil on linen, 60 x 48". Part of the C.M. Russell Museum’s live auction on August 18, 2023.
Colt Idol, Lonely Blues, oil on linen, 36 x 40". Part of the live auction for the Western Visions Sale at the National Wildlife Museum in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, in September 2023.
“I try to create energetic, moody oil works that generally fall under a Western umbrella in terms of subject matter,” the artist explains. “I like to focus mostly on wildlife, Native American and cowboy/Old West subjects. I would say that my largest inspiration is where I live—Northwest Montana. As far as appealing natural effects to implement into a painting, Montana is an artistic gold mine. I always try to keep roughly 10 percent of my work in a ‘departure/experimental’ lane. This may mean tightening up in style and focusing more on realism, or it may mean completely throwing out traditional methods in an attempt to find a voice in the abstract. As of late, I have found breakthroughs in the contemporary field through loose but targeted experimentation. See the painting Heart and Soul for an example of that.”
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Davis Brothers Auction
Missoula, Montana
www.davisbrothersauction.com
William and Matthew Davis are the co-founders of the Davis Brothers Auction, the newest high-stakes player in Montana’s Western art scene. The brothers have combined technology and their unrivaled expertise to innovate within the industry.
John Fery (1859-1934), Avalanche Lake, Glacier National Park Montana, oil, 13 x 24” SOLD: $11,875
With more than 25 years of experience, William Davis is a second-generation antique appraiser who has mastered the art of handling historical Montana collections, Native American treasures and Western art. Armed with a computer science degree from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Matthew Davis injects innovation into the antique realm, advancing business systems to create an efficient auction machine.
Large turquoise and coral designer squash blossom SOLD: $7,930.
Martha Pettigrew, Northern Exposure, life-sized bronze totem pole, 88½ x 17 x 17" SOLD: $20,000
Having true Montana grit, these ambitious brothers have achieved remarkable milestones, processing and shipping more than 3,500 lots each month to worldwide destinations. They boast an impressive record of providing consignors with prompt payouts in less than three weeks and have surpassed $8.5 million in sales since 2020. They have expertly managed iconic Western consignments, including the renowned Allard Auction collection—one of the oldest Native American auction houses in North America. The latest consignment features iconic bolo ties curated by Norman Sandfield, whose collection has been featured in the Heard Museum in Phoenix. —
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