Collectors and artists gather at the Heritage Inn in Great Falls, Montana, for a previous Out West Art Show & Sale.

The unique event takes place within the hotel rooms surrounding an atrium at the Heritage Inn. Artists are allowed to curate, decorate and make cozy presentations within the rooms, allowing a more intimate art viewing experience. Guests can freely browse the art and meet artists as they wander through the rooms or partake in other art activities in the atrium. Out West is one-of-a-kind experience and a treasured event by those who have made it a beloved institution in Great Falls. 

Brenna Kimbro, Moonlight, bronze, 36 x 20 x 12 in.

Events kick off on March 19 at 7 p.m. with an evening quick-finish event and live auction. A dozen artists will create artwork in front of a live audience, after which the works will be sold in the room. Twenty-four artists will participate in a second and third quick-finish event and auction on March 20 and 21, both starting at 2 p.m. The artists’ rooms are open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The entire event is free and open to the public. 

Susan Eyer-Anderson, River Buffet, oil on panel, 24 x 36 in.  

Susan Eyer-Anderson will be showing her landscape and horse paintings at this year’s show. In one of her new works, River Buffet, the artist paints four horses drinking from a well-known Arizona river. “These four horses are wild mustangs soaking in the Salt River, located in the Tonto National Forest in central Arizona,” Eyer-Anderson says. “During the hot summertime, the horses spend a lot of time in the river, keeping cool and eating the delectable eel grass that grows there. I love the different personalities and expressive faces of the horses in this piece. People from all over the world come to the area, hiking for miles and floating down the river in hopes of seeing these famous horses.”

Susan Eyer-Anderson, Morning Fire, oil on linen, 18 x 24 in.

Eyer-Anderson paints another wild horse in Salt River Dancer. “This is Tioga, a Salt River mustang stallion hanging out in the trees near the Salt River,” she says. “He is vibrant, defiant and protects his mares from a constant barrage of threats, including other stallions who would very much like to steal them. His is a full-time job. He is always on alert, living out his day in the sun. One day, a younger, stronger, determined stallion will come along and take his place, casting him out of the herd. Until that day comes, he is fierce and formidable.”

Brenna Kimbro, Sky Dancer, bronze, 35 x 36 x 10 in.

Sculptor Brenna Kimbro will also be showing equine subjects with her bronze sculptures. “Art and horses are the heart of my creative journey serving as both inspiration and expression. Celebrating the joy and connection they bring, I share my voice and the spirit of my beloved horses through bronze sculpture, one-of-a-kind sculpture and paintings. Freedom fuels my self-discovery, allowing me to embrace new beginnings and transformation with gratitude,” she says. “Recent loss, especially my mother’s passing, has reshaped my identity and deepened my intuition. Her love and strength remain guiding lights, inspiring me to move forward and stay true to myself in all I do. Sorrow teaches me that there is light within us all. Even in darkness, reflection shines, breakdowns become breakthroughs and kindness radiates beauty. My journey is shaped by inspiration and growth, reminding me to nurture the light within and share it with others. Every challenge can foster new joy, and we can uplift ourselves and others with love.”

Susan Eyer-Anderson, Salt River Dancer, oil on panel, 48 x 36 in.; Brenna Kimbro, Zero Gravity, bronze, 42 x 32 x 10 in.  

Two adjacent rooms at the Heritage Inn will be shared by artists Cody Kuehl, Abby Pittman, Sarah Boston and Tyrel Johnson. “Step into a vibrant celebration of the West as four artists reunite for a dynamic gallery-style exhibition spanning two immersive rooms, with each artist bringing a distinct voice and vision to the show,” the four artists write in a joint statement. “Sarah Boston captivates with lifelike portraits that honor the spirit of Western figures and wildlife, inviting viewers into a world where tradition meets nature. Tyrel Johnson pushes boundaries as an innovative sculptor and woodworker, crafting pieces that are as rich in meaning as they are in design—each work a conversation between material and message. Cody Kuehl fuses intricate graphical subjects with bold, abstract underlays, creating a striking interplay of detail and imagination that draws the eye and sparks curiosity. Abby Pittman enchants with whimsical landscapes and wildlife paintings, transforming familiar scenes into playful escapes. Together, these artists offer a diverse and inspiring journey through contemporary art—one that promises to engage, surprise and delight every visitor.”

Cody Kuehl, Wyatt and the Boys, acrylic on Plexiglass and panel, 30 x 30 in.; Abby Pittman, Granny’s Garden, acrylic on wood, 36 x 37 in.

Pursuing her interest in Indigenous people and animal life, Jan Fontecchio creates still life oil paintings consisting of Native tribal baskets and pottery, along with native birds and fruits common to the tribal area. She researches her topics, tracks down and photographs the baskets and wild fruits she paints, and then uses studio lighting to achieve the realistic colors and shadows. “Old tribal baskets and pottery with their indigenous birds and fruit are small worlds that tell quiet stories,” the painter says. “Stories that depict ancient things, maybe cracked and worn, maybe slowly desiccating with time. I paint beautifully vintage artifacts depicted alongside native fruits, bringing the stillness to life and energy through the patterned plumage and bright eye of a native wild bird.”

Clockwise from left: Jan Fontecchio, Apache Water Pot, Wild Apples and Goldfinches, oil on panel, 22 x 28 in.; Jan Fontecchio, Dia Basket, Butterfly and Bluebird, oil on panel, 10 x 20 in.; Molly Sims, Grand Tetons Sunrise at Oxbow Bend, oil on archival board, custom black and gold frame, 18 x 36 in.  

Sculptor C.M. “Chip” Jones, a fifth-generation Montanan who is also the Out West director, will be presenting his work at this year’s show. Jones uses a unique technique he refers to as painting with bronze, or splashed bronze. It’s a technique where the unpredictable fury of 2,400-degree molten metal meets the artist’s deliberate hand. Instead of passive casting, Jones aggressively throws and drips liquid bronze into open-faced molds, using cast iron ladles as his brushes. The result is a stunning fusion of chaos and control—highly textured reliefs where elk, bear and trout seem to emerge violently yet gracefully from the abstract surface. By framing these rugged sculptures in antique wood from the 1800s, Jones bridges the gap between the untamed American West and contemporary expressionism. His work captures not just the image of wildlife, but its raw, kinetic spirit, proving that in the right hands, even the heaviest metal can be made to splash and dance.

Tobias Sauer, Grand Canyon, oil, 30 x 40 in.

Painter Molly Sims will be showing a mixture of work, including wildlife, landscapes and intimate scenes of nature. In Grand Tetons Sunrise at Oxbow Bend, Sims paints one of the most iconic mountain ranges in North America. “Last spring we visited the Grand Teton National Park and got up early to watch the sunrise, and it was breathtaking,” Sims says. “I did a small plein air painting on site and took several photos to capture this scene. It was magical and a wonderful memory of my time in the park.”

Top: Neil Hamelin, Empress and Her Crown, oil, 28 x 34 in.  Bottom: C.M. “Chip” Jones, Cowbird Posse, bronze, 24 x 42 in. Rick Kennington, Out Where the Land Never Ends, oil, 32 x 48 in.

For more details on Out West, including a full schedule and other information, visit the website. —