Bob Morgan’s Montana | My Life and Art

Published: November 4, 2008

Take a fascinating journey into the private life and public persona of one of Montana’s exceptional and most interesting narrative and landscape painters in Bob Morgan’s Montana: My Life and Art. The book shares this Helena native’s gift for humor and storytelling, his sources of inspiration and offers us a glimpse into his dedication to the arts in Montana.

It also explores his lifelong curiosity with Montana’s iconic western painter. “No one had more influence on me than a man I never met: the painter Charles Marion Russell,” Morgan tells his readers.

And in turn, no other person has left their mark on the Montana Historical Society in quite the way that curator and museum chief, board member, staff artist and volunteer Bob Morgan did between the years of 1962- 2006. In 1988, MHS trustees honored him with their award for Outstanding Contributions to Montana History.

Morgan is one of only two artists who have had artwork in every C.M. Russell auction since its inception in 1969. Only modestly does he mention any contributions he made to the development of this successful and prestigious event held annually in Great Falls.

Morgan is the co-founder of the Western Rendezvous of Art, which brings collectors and artists from all over the country for an exciting array of events that helps to support the Helena Civic Center’s renovation projects and the Montana Historical Society’s art acquisition fund. Morgan began the event’s popular quick draw and auction in 1974. The Western Rendezvous of Art marked its 30th anniversary this past summer.

Richard Sims, director of the Montana Historical Society, offers us insight into some of the unique qualities of this book. “Bob Morgan is a splendid storyteller of Montana history. Bob tells stories of wonderment, stories of challenge and stories of accomplishment. He does not use pen and paper for these stories that are imbedded in the landscape of the Big Sky country. Bob wields a paintbrush and applies to canvas the images that form through his mastery. Bob Morgan is a narrative painter of the first order, instilling through color and form the lasting emotions that give depth to this last best place.”

Morgan is probably best known for his mural work, paintings and limited edition prints, but is also recognized for the poster he created for U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s annual Toys for Tots campaign. “I was the first artist west of the Mississippi to do this poster. Over six million were printed,” remarks Morgan, who has donated artwork to many worthy causes over the years.

He is the 2001 winner of the Governor’s Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts and in 2008, an Honorary Doctor of Arts was bestowed by Carroll College.

The hardbound volume, which sells for $50, contains 160 pages of lavish photographs and text detailing his life and body of work. Co-written with Norma Ashby and published by Sweetgrass Books, this biography is available at the Montana Historical Society, C.M. Russell Museum, Montana Book Company and Hallmark stores across Montana. It may be ordered from the Historical Society's online store, montanahistoricalsociety.org/departments/store/default.asp.

– By Kim Baraby Hurtle

Courtesy of the Montana Arts Council