It’s Charlie Russell’s birthday on March 19, and the museum that bears his name in Great Falls, Montana, is celebrating. The bash is called, of course, The Russell. The annual event that is hosted by the C.M. Russell Museum returns to Montana from March 19 to 21. The event not only celebrates the contributions that Russell made to Western art, but also shines a bright light on a new generation of artists who were influenced by him and his work.
The Russell during the 2025 event in Great Falls, Montana.“This is always an exciting time of year for us at the museum, and this year is going to be a great show,” says Duane Braaten, the museum’s executive director. “We get especially enthusiastic as we see the quality of the work as it gets finished. The artists truly deliver some of their best artwork for this event.”
While the show serves as an annual flashpoint for Russell and his many fans, it also serves the museum as auction premiums and all proceeds from ticket sales go right back into programming at the C.M. Russell Museum.
Jennifer Johnson, Cruisin’ at the Million Dollar, oil, 40 x 30 in. Like past shows, this year’s lineup will feature several key components. First up is the art preview party at the museum on Thursday, March 19. This reception will allow bidders and museum patrons to lay eyes on the historic lots, including several major Russells, prior to the auction. The following day, Friday, March 20, is the Art in Action quickdraw at the Meadowlark Country Club. More than 25 artists will be creating art in front of an audience, after which the pieces will be sold via auction. The participating artists donate their time, materials and 100 percent of the purchase price of the artwork back to the museum. On the evening of March 20, events shift over to the Heritage Inn, where the First Strike Friday Night will take place. This event will feature 84 lots, all of them by living artists whose works were selected in a competitive submission process. Braaten says as many as 1,500 works are examined before final selections are made for The Russell.
Summer Spitsbergen, Roaming Bison, oil, 30 x 40 in.
W. Steve Seltzer, A Familiar Landmark, oil, 24 x 30 in.
On Saturday, March 21, there will be a Western art symposium in the morning at Montana ExpoPark, the location of several unrelated Western shows. That evening, back at the Heritage Inn, is the Russell Live, the main sale featuring works by living and historic artists.
Historic material in the sale will feature nine Russell works, including 1906 oil The Run (est. $800/900,000), 1896 oil Her Heart is on the Ground (est. $450/650,000), 1897 oil The Rattlesnake (est. $800/900,000) and 1906 watercolor and gouache work The Bolter (est. $50/650,000). Other historic artists in the main sale are Olaf C. Seltzer, represented by several watercolors, and Maynard Dixon, whose 1912 work Moonrise Over Mojavewill be offered with estimates of $200,000 to $250,000.
Jeremy Winborg, Pitamakan – Dawn of a Horse Thief, oil, 48 x 37 in.
Living artists represented in the Friday and Saturday sales include Jennifer Johnson, Jeremy Winborg, Colt Idol, Brooke Wetzel, Michael Blessing, Luke Frazier, Randy Van Beek, Nancy Dunlop Cawdrey, Caleb Meyer and W. Steve Seltzer, grandson of Great Falls painter Olaf C. Seltzer, who was friends with Russell.
Luke Frazier, The Beginning of the End, oil, 40 x 60 in.
Colt Idol, Enchanted, oil, 50 x 40 in.
“We’re feeling very confident about The Russell this year for several reasons. First, the excitement for the ticket sales has been unlike anything I can remember. Part of that is because we had a wildly successful Russell in 2025. That show raised the bar for us,” Braaten says. “Secondly, people are putting Great Falls on their calendars so they don’t miss it. We like to hear that. Our priority is to make this special for every collector, every artist, every patron.”
Michael Blessing, The Long View, oil, 38 x 60 in.
For an updated schedule of events and programming for The Russell, visit the museum’s website. —
The Russell
March 19-21, 2026
Art Preview Party, March 19, 5-7 p.m., C.M. Russell Museum
Art in Action, March 20, 11 a.m-
1 p.m., Meadowlark Country Club
First Strike Friday Night Auction, March 20, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Heritage Inn
The Russell Live, March 21, 4 p.m., Heritage Inn
Heritage Inn
1700 Fox Farm Road, Great Falls, MT 59404
(406) 727-8787, cmrussell.org
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