Glacier Art Museum hosts plein air Glacier outdoor painting event
Daily Inter-Lake | UPDATED 1 hour, 6 minutes AGO
Artist Mark Ogle paints the Porter/Blasdel Barn along North Somers Road in this June 18, 2020 file photo as part of the Hockaday Museum of Art's annual Plein Air Glacier: Paint Out event. The 2024 event will feature 37 artists from around Montana and the country who will be painting outdoors from Aug. 26-30. The artwork, which will be available for sale, will be on display at the Hockaday Aug. 31 through Oct. 5.(Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake FILE)
The Glacier Art Museum hosts its 19th annual Plein Air Glacier: Paint Out, Exhibition and Sale, a combined painting experience and favorite destination event, with selected established painters from Montana and around the country painting in Glacier National Park and nearby Swan and Flathead valleys.
This year, 34 artists were selected by a panel of jurors to participate in both the outdoor paint-out, fundraiser sale, and exhibition. Plein Air Glacier attracts top artistic talent from across the country. Painting outdoors is a centuries-old tradition for adventurous souls who brave encounters with Montana’s rugged natural landscapes, wildlife, and unpredictable changing weather conditions in exchange for the opportunity and challenge to paint from real life.
The selected artists will travel to Northwest Montana to paint outdoors in the fresh air (“en plein air”) Aug. 24-28 with an opening fundraiser sale event Saturday, Aug. 29, from 5-8 p.m. and an ongoing sale exhibit in-person and online at the museum through Oct. 10.
Plein Air Glacier 2026 features 34 participating juried artists from Montana and across the country: Stephanie Barrett-Pointer, Evelyn Bergeron, Brian Braunberger, Sandy Bridgewater, Jessica Bryant, Richie Carter, Lyudmila Tomova Clark, Therese Ely, Jane Latus Emmert, Natalie Fisher, Linda Franson, Patricia Fuhrmann, Brooke Gavelle, Ella Kuzyk, Denise Lemaster, Cody Ling, Falina Lintner, Annie McCoy, David Mihalic, Wanda Mumm, Sheri Nagy, Karl Oehrtman, Mark Ogle, Donald Phanco, Willim Stebe, Rachel Steely, Lara Taubner, Margie Taylor, Lindsay Jane Ternes, Ron Ukrainetz, Michael Walter, Karen “Kay” Wittig, Kenneth Yarus, and Min Zhong.
On Wednesday, Aug. 26, many of the Plein Air Glacier artists will participate in a Public Painting Day in Glacier: Artists will be present between 8 a.m. to noon and 4 to 7 p.m. in the following West Glacier National Park locations: Apgar Village, Apgar Lake McDonald shoreline, Belton Train Station and Historic Belton Bridge.
The exhibit will kick off with a limited opening event Saturday, Aug. 29, from 5-8 p.m. at the museum with food by The House of S& M Catering, drinks, artist meet and greet, awards for Curator and Artist Choice announced, live music by Lee Zimmerman, and the plein air paintings sale of more than 70 all-new paintings created during the event, including a one-night only “wet works” sale of additional unframed works at discounted prices.
Plein Air Glacier is a favorite of art lovers seeking original works of Montana landscapes and scenery. These all-new paintings created on location during this event by selected artists range in size and medium from watercolor to oils. For the online sale, which starts Tuesday, Sept. 1, after the in-person sale, works are offered at a “buy it now” price through Oct. 10.
Proceeds from this fundraiser event benefit the museum’s educational programs and exhibitions and the museum’s mission to enrich the cultural life of the community and preserve the artistic legacy of Montana and Glacier National Park, as well as help support artists.
General admission for the museum is free for members, $8 for non-members, $6 for seniors and veterans, and $4 for students and active military. Youth under 18 are free.
For more information, visit glacierartmuseum.org/plein-air-glacier/