Montana Rapture

Montana Rapture is an exhibition meant to explore the complex and varied depictions of Western American identity and symbolism, from the Montana Modernists to traditional realism-style landscapes to contemporary Indigenous iconography. Though the styles are broad, the inspiration remains the same—the Western landscape and the people who reside within it.

All of the artists in this exhibition are either from Montana or have resided there. While this isn’t an exhaustive representation of all the perspectives in the West, we aim to provide a nuanced view of artwork inspired by Montana and the Western United States, constrained by the limits of our permanent collection. Much of the realism-style landscape art from the early days of the Holter collection tends to be seldom displayed due to its traditional themes and outdated look bordering on kitsch. This type of painting certainly has merit; however, it isn’t typically what comes to mind when thinking of “modern” or “contemporary”. The intriguing aspect lies in the contrast between the styles. These artworks communicate with each other, highlighting the pronounced differences in their approaches. Despite their variance, they still share a common theme of a life shaped by their environment. Works by Montana Modernists and Indigenous artists are also included. These pieces are intended to contrast with the formalism of the traditional oil paintings and provide a wider point of view.

As viewers examine these artworks and explore their distinctions, they should recognize that, despite their initial visual impressions, these pieces share more similarities than differences. There is a narrative, a shared story woven between all of these works of art. Each piece draws inspiration from a shared location, crafted by an artist who resonated with the landscape or culture. All artists have lived in Montana, and each creation serves as a testament that, despite our diverse perspectives, we have more in common than we might think.