While the state of Montana is known for its harsh winters, it’s a small price to pay for its immense beauty, earning nicknames like the Treasure State, Big Sky Country and the Mountain State. Home to Glacier National Park, and a range of terrain that includes the Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains, it’s not surprising that many artists have been drawn to Montana to capture and experience its stunning natural scenery. In addition, the region is strongly tied to Indigenous people, home to tribes like the Blackfeet Nation, Assiniboine and Sioux tribes, and the Northern Cheyenne, to name just a few.  

The Rocky Mountains. Photo courtesy of the Montana Department of Commerce.Historic artists that were greatly impacted by Montana include the likes of Thomas Moran, Frederic Remington, Albert Bierstadt and Joseph Henry Sharp. Charles M. Russell (1864-1926) is most known for his connections to the state, having lived the “cowboy life” in Great Falls,  and “gifted the world with an inspired visual record celebrating Indigenous culture, Western narratives, grand landscapes and majestic wildlife scenes,” notes the C.M. Russell Museum. “While his art is considered historic, his spirit is timeless.”

Blackfeet Indian dancers, Blackfeet Indian Reservation. Photo courtesy of the Montana Department of Commerce.

In fact, Great Falls also serves as the location for the ever-popular Western Art Week, an annual celebration that aligns with Russell’s birthday, honoring his legacy and contribution to the Western art world. This year, festivities will run from March 18 to 22, presenting a bevy of significant programming including auctions, exhibitions and shows hosted by some of Montana’s best. Included within this section is a schedule of events to help visitors navigate the many opportunities to experience and purchase Western art and artifacts. 

Bison, Fort Belknap Reservation, Buffalo Tours. Photo courtesy of the Montana Department of Commerce.

On your next visit to Montana—be it Great Falls, Whitefish, Bozeman, Billings, Missoula, Helena or Kalispell—we hope you consider art destinations that will enhance your time in the state, and, perhaps, bring a bit of history back with you.

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Cassens Fine Art
215 W. Main Street, Hamilton, Montana 59840
(406) 363-4112, gallery@cassensfineart.com
www.cassensfineart.com
IG: cassensfineart

Tucked into the beautiful Bitterroot Valley, Cassens Fine Art is a locally owned gallery representing a wide range of contemporary Western artists and masters across all mediums. Featuring traditional and contemporary interpretations of the West, the works at Cassens Fine Art represent artists’ stories and creative vision.

Cassens Fine Art, Gary Owen Blues, oil, 48 x 36 in., by Tom Gilleon; Cassens Fine Art, Ascension, oil on canvas, 48 x 48 in., by Scott Ruthven.

Owner and curator Michelle Cassens was born and raised in the Bitterroot Valley. She remains consistently committed to supporting artists and galleries across Montana and beyond, while continuing to grow a vibrant fine art community.

“Located in the heart of downtown Hamilton, we have the honor of representing national exhibitions by the American Impressionist Society, and respected artists including Tom Gilleon, Jeff Weir, Colt Idol, Mike Barlow and more,” says Cassens. “In August 2026, we’ll proudly host the Oil Painters of America’s National Juried Salon,the first time this exhibition has been featured in Montana. Our mission is to remain committed to the continued growth of the arts.”

Cassens Fine Art, When Leaves Fall Softly, oil, 36 x 24 in., by Colt Idol.

Over the past two decades, Cassens has grown into a trusted home for collectors and artists across the nation. “We are proud to work closely with each artist we represent, offering new artworks, curated exhibitions and custom framing for all who walk through our doors,” notes Cassens.

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March in Montana Auction and Dealer Show
Elks Lodge #214, 500 First Avenue South, Great Falls, MT 59401
(208) 664-2091, info@marchinmontana.com
www.marchinmontana.com 

The 39th Annual March in Montana Auction and Dealer Show, presented by Coeur d’Alene Galleries and Coeur d’Alene Art Auction, returns to the Great Falls Elks Club this March, uniting collectors, dealers and art enthusiasts for one of the nation’s premier Western art and collectibles events. The 2026 sale will feature more than 725 lots alongside a strong roster of dealers, celebrating the art, artifacts and enduring spirit of the American West.

Top: March in Montana, Montana Oasis, oil on canvas, 36 x 24 in., by Colt Idol. Estimate: $6/8,000; March in Montana, Fall Bird Hunting, watercolor, 12 x 18 in., by Olaf C. Seltzer (1877-1957). Estimate: $8/12,000. Bottom: Bidders at the 2025 March in Montana Auction and Dealer Show.

Highlights include original bronze casts by Frederic Remington (Broncho Buster) and Charles M. Russell (Range Father), along with sculpture by Bob Scriver, Earl E. Heikka, Harry Jackson, Gerald Balciar and Bill Nebeker. Collectors of early American firearms will find exceptional flintlocks by master gunsmiths such as John Armstrong, Peter Berry, Nicholas Beyer and Adam Ernst, complemented by a rare note signed by George Washington.

Native American highlights include a painted elk hide by Cadzi Cody, as well as a collectible Crow saddle, rare bow and quiver, an extremely rare Lakota “medicine wrapper,” along with outstanding Navajo weavings.

Join the festivities during Western Art Week at the Elks Lodge #214, from March 19 through 21.

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Kyril Bruce DeFoor
Stevensville, MT, (575) 973-1004,
bruce@d4arts.com
westernpop.com 

Kyril Bruce DeFoor spent almost 70 years chasing his creative muse, an obsession that sparked in grade school. His professional career culminated in 35 years as a university professor of fine arts, where he nurtured the creativity of thousands of students while refining his own unique voice. Growing up in New Mexico, and now in the Bitterroot of Montana, his work remains rooted in Western imagery.

Kyril Bruce DeFoor, Wild by Nature, oil, 24 x 36 in.; Kyril Bruce DeFoor, Cowboy Gummies, acrylic, 20 x 20 in.

After being raised around horses and riding broncs in the rodeo, he knew “the cowboy way” that led him to paint highly realistic and authentic Western scenes for nearly five decades. “Much of today’s Western art looks backward in time, but two years ago I decided to change my approach and focus on the now,” the artist notes. His new, groundbreaking series reimagines Western lore. His paintings bring the past into the present through surreal, color-drenched canvases drawn from imagination and memory. DeFoor’s latest pieces have electrified the genre with a vibrant, psychedelic quality, fusing frontier symbolism with the avant-garde and a sense of mystery that even he hasn’t fully resolved. 

Kyril Bruce DeFoor, The Missing Pony, acrylic, 20 x 20 in.

Every subject is reimagined with an explosive modern energy, positioning him at the forefront of Western Pop and securing his place among collectors who identify with his unique and daring vision. “The American West is less about a place and more of a mindset—it’s a way of navigating unmarked trails and finding our way in the journey,” says DeFoor. “I hope my paintings can serve as visual guideposts to help every kindred spirit along their way.” The artist will be showing at the Best of the West Art Show in Great Falls, Montana, from March 19 to 22 at the Shonkin Event Center.

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Elizabeth Mordensky
(703) 789-6519
art@mordenskyfineart.com
www.mordenskyfineart.com 

The work of artist Elizabeth Mordensky is a celebration of her life in a region where the presence of wildlife is an everyday experience. Her paintings are shaped by years spent as a wildlife guide in Yellowstone National Park, where close observation of animals in their natural environment informs both her content and approach. Time in the field has given her an intimate understanding of animal behavior and the rhythms of nature.

Elizabeth Mordensky, The Boys, oil finger painting, 36 x 60 in.; Elizabeth Mordensky, Starry Solstice, oil finger painting, 36 x 48 in.

Mordensky first arrived in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem 20 years ago, resulting in an unexpected love for the Montana winter. She is now best known for her depictions of animals in winter, capturing moments of endurance, stillness and movement within snowbound environments.

Working directly with her hands, Mordensky applies oil paint through an unconventional finger-painting process, building thick, layered surfaces, infused with energy, weight and motion. Her direct alla prima approach keeps her oil paintings fresh and vibrant.

Mordensky’s work can be found at Going to the Sun Gallery located in Whitefish, Montana.

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Kirsten Kainz
(406) 579-9845
www.kirstenkainz.net 

Kirsten Kainz is an artist who lives in the heart of the West. The natural world and art have always been central in her life. Her home is nestled on the mountainside and is full of children and animals. The artist creates sculptural animals, paintings and lighting. Every one of her creations reflects her  relationship to the natural world.

Kirsten Kainz, Shared Vision, oil on canvas, 30 x 40 in.; Kirsten Kainz, In it Together, oil on canvas, 30 x 40 in.

Kainz’s paintings have two distinct area of exploration: landscapes that showcase the beauty of the sky and the horizon with a fascinating sense of scale, and her horse series, which explores color, form and relationships. “[My] horse pieces depict personality and individuality, and, in addition, they illustrate the powerful dynamics we all share when we are paired up,” the artist explains.

Horses have been a big part of Kainz’s life. She grew up around English riding traditions and now the Western horse world keeps the animal close at hand. “The mountain landscape is, thankfully, saturated with horses,” she says. “These horse paintings are in a word, bold. They are something you will simply feel when you encounter them.” —

Western Art Week Calendar

Best of the West Art Show
March 19-22
Shonkin Event Center, 901 Ninth Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401
www.thebestofthewestshow.com 

Celebration of Native Plains Artists
March 19-22
Pacific Steel & Recycling Arena, 400 Third Street NW, Great Falls, MT 59404
www.visitgreatfallsmontana.org 

First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park Annual Art Show and Reception
March 21
First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park, 342 Vaughn Road, Ulm, MT 59485
fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/first-peoples-buffalo-jump 

Hotel Arvon Show and Hallway Art Sale
Ongoing
Hotel Arvon, 118 First Avenue South, Great Falls, MT 59401
www.visitgreatfallsmontana.org 

Legends West Art Show
March 19-22
Shonkin Event Center, 901 Ninth Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401
www.legendswestartshow.com 

March in Montana Auction & Dealer Show
March 19-22
Elks Lodge #214, 500 First Avenue South, Great Falls, MT 59401
www.marchinmontana.com 

Out West Art Show & Sale
March 19-21
Heritage Inn, 1700 Fox Farm Road, Great Falls, MT 59404
www.owas.online 

Studio 706 Spring Show
March 19-21
Studio 706 Art Guild, 101 Central Avenue, Great Falls, MT 59401
www.visitgreatfallsmontana.org 

The Russell
March 19-21
C.M. Russell Museum, 400 13th Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401
cmrussell.org/experience/the-russell 

Western Heritage Art Show
March 18-22
Holiday Inn Great Falls Convention Center, 1100 Fifth Street South, Great Falls, MT 59404
www.westernheritageartists.com 

Wild Bunch Art Show
March 19-21
Hampton Inn Great Falls, 2301 14th Street SW, Great Falls, MT 59404
www.wildbunchart.com 

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