Celebrating Women Artists Who Defined the American West

Fra Dana, On the Window Seat, oil on canvas, Montana Museum of Art & Culture, University of Montana

The nonprofit associations History Jackson Hole and AWARE: Archives of Women Artists, Research & Exhibitions have recently collaborated on a new exhibition titled Women Artists of the American West: Trailblazers at the Turn of the 20th Century, on view in the Cissy Patterson Gallery at the Jackson Hole History Museum.

At the cusp of the 20th century, the five women artists featured in this exhibition lived during a time of profound change in women’s roles in Western American society. Each artist offers a unique perspective that celebrates the lives of cowgirls, female friends and sisters—going beyond traditional representations of the West, which often center on cowboys, soldiers, gold miners and fur traders.

We spoke with Kirsten Corbett, exhibits and communications director at History Jackson Hole, and Lucia Pesapane, AWARE’s art historian and co-curator, to learn more.

Evelyn Cameron standing on Jim the horse, photograph by Evelyn Cameron, between 1905-1915, PAC 90-87.N274, Montana Historical Society

What are some standout pieces in the exhibition, and what do they reveal about the artists’ experiences?

KC: Photograph: Evelyn Cameron, Evelyn Cameron standing on her horse Jim, Montana Historical Society Research Center. Evelyn set up this photo of herself standing on her white horse, Jim. In it she projects strength and humor, positioning herself in a pose full of both power and play, looking directly into the camera with a broad smile on her face. The photo’s composition is outstanding with the shadow of both her camera and friend taking the photograph falling directly underneath the horse, revealing the photographic process as part of the image. The show’s curators intentionally selected several photographic self-portraits from both Evelyn Cameron and Lora Webb Nichols for the show.

Fra Dana, Storm Coming Down, No Date, oil paint on panel, 12.5 x 16.25 inches, Montana Museum of Art & Culture

KC: Painting: Fra Dana, Storm Coming Down, no date, oil on board, 12 ¼ x 16 inches, Montana Museum of Art and Culture. This petite yet impactful landscape depicts a storm blowing down from the mountains towards the plains and also reveals the artist Fra Dana’s intimate relationship with the landscape. Rather than a vertical piece depicting dominant peaks, the composition is horizontal and the mountains somewhat distant with an emphasis on the contrast between the bright yellow foreground and approaching dark storm on the horizon. The viewer feels almost as if they’re standing in the field with the clouds approaching.

Tell us more about the artistic styles or themes that distinguish their work from the dominant Western art of the time.

LP: The women artists of the 19th-century American West challenged traditional visual conventions. Their work does not feature the usual cowboys, soldiers, goldminers, or fur traders. Instead, they highlight cowgirls, female friendships, and sisterly bonds. Rather than glorifying dominance over the land, they offer a more intimate and nuanced perspective—smaller in scale, quieter in tone.

Elizabeth Lochrie, Untitled, No Date oil on canvas, 4.5 x 3.5 inches, Montana Museum of Art & Culture

What was the most surprising discovery during the research and curation of this exhibition?

LP: What struck us was these artists’ awareness of their own abilities and their skill in balancing artistic ambition with a life on ranches, shaped by concrete and often demanding needs. These women left valuable testimonies through diaries and notebooks, which provide insight into their daily lives and those of their contemporaries, highlighting shared experiences.

The exhibition will be on view in the Jackson Hole History Museum’s upstairs gallery through July 12, 2025. Hours and admissions are available at jacksonholehistory.org.

Josephine Hale, Untitled (Portrait), No Date oil paint on canvas, 30.5 x 26.25 inches, Montana Museum of Art & Culture