Glacier’s First People’s, Montana Artists: Loaned Works and Recent Acquisitions

This exhibition features two components: beadwork on loan from Three Chiefs Cultural Center and recent acquisitions to the Hockaday Museum of Art permanent collection. 

Works on loan from Three Chiefs Cultural Center, formerly ‘The People’s Center’, are on view after the institution suffered extensive damages to their building and its collection in an arson fire in September 2020. After undergoing thorough conservation work from smoke damage, the artwork was made available to galleries and museums across the state to show while the center rebuilds. Three Chiefs Cultural Center is owned and operated by the Salish, Kootenai, and Pend d’Oreille tribes, with artwork originating from all three groups. Our exhibition features beaded vests, breechcloths, buckskin chaps, wool leggings, and more. 

Recent acquisitions include sculptures and oil paintings added to the permanent collection in 2021-2022. The Hockaday’s growing collection of over 2,000 objects highlights art and artists from and inspired by the region, Montana State, and Glacier National Park.