Upcoming Exhibitions at MAM
Lauren Grabelle, Deer Diary
May 1-July 26
Lauren Grabelle is a prolific photographer with an extensive and diverse portfolio. Rather than adhering to a singular focus, she allows her projects to emerge organically, though a thematic thread runs through her work—exploring relationships between people and place, humans and animals, and animals and the land. Originally from New Jersey, Grabelle moved to northwest Montana seeking solace in nature, settling on the edge of the Flathead Valley, an area of rugged beauty now facing rapid population growth and increasing encroachment on wildlife habitat. Deer Diary is a departure from her usual photographic approach, as she relinquishes control by using motion-activated trail cameras to capture deer moving across shared landscapes. The resulting nighttime images are moody and atmospheric, with glowing eyes and ethereal forms emerging from the darkness. The exhibition features a large video projection, framed prints, and free-hanging scrims, offering an alternative to conventional wildlife photography, which often relies on controlled precision. Instead, Grabelle embraces the mystery and presence of everyday nature, documenting creatures that have been central to art, mythology, and storytelling since ancient times. Recognized in Women Photograph: 2024 Year in Pictures and Photolucida Critical Mass TOP 200, Grabelle has an extensive exhibition history, including past features at MAM. Deer Diary marks her first solo museum exhibition, and we are thrilled to share this evocative work with our audience.
Karl Schwiesow: Sinking Feeling
May-October, 2025
This exhibition explores the interplay between handmade ceramics and reconfigured domestic objects through processes of addition and subtraction, emphasizing the creation of works "out of parts." Schwiesow builds clay pieces from individual components that are later combined or edited and deconstructs everyday objects to recombine them in unexpected ways. The result challenges the viewer’s understanding of open and closed semantic systems—where sensory experience and language interact to shape meaning.
By subverting functional fixedness, Schwiesow highlights the tension between utility and artistic expression. Through sensory engagement, the work invites viewers to rethink the physical and associative characteristics of objects, offering a platform for dialogue about cultural experiences and assumptions. This approach transforms objects into dynamic starting points for reimagining meaning and purpose.
Brian Maguire, No One is Forgotten
June-September, First Friday June 6
The Missoula Art Museum (MAM) is honored to present History of America, an exhibition by acclaimed artist Brian Maguire, on view from June through September 2025. This powerful exhibition sheds light on the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) in Montana, a harrowing epidemic deeply rooted in the history and territory of Indian Country.
Maguire, an Irish artist known for tackling pressing global issues, has been working on this series since 2020. His work examines the theme of territorialization, a thread that connects his broader body of work, which includes projects on migrant deaths in the Mediterranean and Sonoran Desert, femicides in Juárez, Mexico, the civil war in Aleppo, Syria, and Indigenous rights in the Brazilian Amazon. Each series highlights the human impact of borders and territorial disputes, making his exploration of MMIR a natural extension of his practice.
History of America aims to bring greater awareness to the MMIR epidemic while encouraging institutional action and community dialogue.
MAM invites you to a special reception for Brian Maguire in May 2025 to celebrate his extraordinary work and its vital message. Stay tuned for more details as we prepare to welcome this significant exhibition.
Alaina Buffalo Spirit, Through a Cheyenne Woman's Eyes
July 1-September 28, First Friday August 1
The Missoula Art Museum is proud to present the work of Alaina Buffalo Spirit, a senior member of the So’taa’ee band of the Northern Cheyenne Nation and a nationally acclaimed artist. Alaina brings her unique perspective to life through the tradition of ledger art, reimagined with modern techniques on canvas.
Ledger art, originating in the mid-1800s, began as a creative outlet for Cheyenne and Kiowa warriors imprisoned at Ft. Marion, Florida. While early pieces were created on paper or cloth, the form evolved to incorporate accounting sheets and sheet music. Alaina’s work is inspired by the history of this art form and the untold stories of women who were overlooked in its early narratives.