Jason Elliott Clark: Free Land

Jason Elliot Clark, Free Land

February 18-June 14, First Friday April 4

Jason Clark's [Algonquin descendant] connection to Missoula began during his graduate studies at the University of Montana, where he earned an MFA in printmaking in 2004. After teaching and managing print studios in Louisiana and Minnesota, he returned to Missoula in 2012 and now serves as an adjunct professor and 2D/3D technician at UM's School of Visual and Media Arts. A two-time guest artist at MATRIX Press, Clark combines technical mastery with a profound exploration of identity and cultural history in his art.

Drawing from his family’s Algonquin heritage and personal experiences, Clark’s work challenges stereotypes of Native culture, blending personal narratives with traditional legends. His large-scale installation, Free Land, exemplifies his expertise in monotype, using stencils, ghost prints, and vibrant color fades to examine the erosion of Indigenous lands through legislation such as the Homestead and Dawes Acts. Featuring 160 prints of species impacted by land development, Free Land critiques historical injustices while envisioning a restored, thriving ecosystem.