Helena Art Galleries

(Helena, Montana - MT, USA)

There is certainly plenty to appeal to lovers of the visual arts, with Helena boasting an extensive list of galleries, a renowned art museum, artist studios, related associations and other exhibition venues - even the walls of some coffee shops are adorned with the works of local Montana artists.

Guest artists regularly make an appearance at Helena's annual Spring Art Walk (mid-May) and Fall Art Walk (mid-November), which take place between the hours of 17:30 to 21:30. These popular events began in the early 1990s and combine local businesses with around 100 of the very best artists in Montana, with exhibitions of paintings, photos, ceramics and sculptures.

Live music, refreshments, competitions and a great atmosphere can be expected at the Art Walks. There is even a free trolley service all through the evening, running in a continuous loop and stopping throughout Reeder's Alley and the Great Northern Town Center. Venues include the AL Swanson Gallery, ExplorationWorks, the Federal Reserve Bank, the Fire Tower Coffee House, the Great Northern Carousel, the Helena Photographic Society, the Holter Museum of Art, the Lewis and Clark County Historical Society, the Myrna Loy Center and the Montana Veterans Foundation, amongst others.

Holter Museum of Art

Address: 12 East Lawrence Street, Helena, Montana (MT), 59601, USA
Tel: +1 406 442 6400
Located on East Lawrence Street and within downtown Helena, the Holter Museum of Art stands in between East Placer Avenue and Cruse Avenue. This notable exhibition space opened in the late 1980s and immediately began to champion contemporary art. Over the years, the gallery has managed to expand, including a particularly sizeable expansion in 2002, which cost in the region of US$2 million. Visitors will find that this art museum is much more than a simple gallery displaying paintings. Its vision is also to stimulate both your creativity and your curiosity, teaching you to interpret the exhibits and capture your imagination. There are often activities laid on for the younger visitors in the Art Studio Classroom, such as painting and drawing sessions, stop-motion animation classes, creating your own super heroes and sculpting with recycled materials.
Open hours: Tuesday to Saturday - 10:00 to 17:30, Sunday - 12:00 to 16:00
Admission: free

Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts

Address: 2915 Country Club Avenue, Helena, Montana (MT), 59602, USA
Tel: +1 406 443 3502
Lying on the western side of downtown Helena, the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts stands just down the road from the Spring Meadow Lake Skate Park. This not-for-profit educational institution was established in 1951 and is dedicated to many different aspects of pottery, whilst providing a working studio to stimulate those with an interest in the creation of ceramics. The building itself is of historical significance in the city, standing on the former site of the Western Clay Manufacturing Company and making an appearance on the National Register of Historic Places. An interesting backdrop is provided by mountains and the remains of the old brick factory, while inside are numerous pottery exhibits, as well as regular auctions, community pottery classes and workshops. The store sells everything from pots, vases and plates to glazes, tools, books and arts materials.
Open hours: gallery, September to May, Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 17:00; June to August, Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 17:00, Sunday - 13:00 to 17:00; grounds, daily - dawn to dusk
Admission: free

Birds and Beasleys

Address: 2 South Last Chance Gulch Street, Helena, Montana (MT), 59601, USA
Tel: +1 406 449 0904
The Birds and Beasleys store lives close to the Holiday Inn Hotel, on the famous South Last Chance Gulch Street and within the historic Mining District. This store incorporates both an art gallery and a gift shop, selling everything from watercolors, acrylic paintings and framed photographs, to rustic bird boxes, wind chimes, scarves made from hand-dyed silk, children's toys and functional pieces of pottery.
Open hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday to Saturday - 09:30 to 18:00, Wednesday - 09:30 to 20:00, Sunday - 11:00 to 16:00
Admission: free

Ghost Art Gallery

Address: 21 South Last Chance Gulch Street, Helena, Montana (MT), 59601, USA
Tel: +1 406 443 4536
Close to the Birds and Beasleys store, the Fire Tower Park and the Lewis and Clark Library, the Ghost Art Gallery specializes in Western art and wildlife art. The gallery was opened in 1974 and originally chose to exhibit paintings of the surrounding abandoned ghost towns, which earned it its name - 'Ghost Art'. Today, close to 100 of the finest artists in Montana choose to exhibit their paintings and sculptures here. A framing service is also provided onsite, along with lots of sensibly priced limited-edition prints.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 10:00 to 18:00, Saturday - 10:00 to 16:00
Admission: free

Staggering Ox

Address: 400 Euclid Avenue, Helena, Montana (MT), 59601, USA
Tel: +1 406 443 1729
The Staggering Ox actively works to promote both local artists from Helena and regional artists from all over the state of Montana. The paintings on exhibit are regularly changed and artists are rotated to ensure that there are always plenty of fresh pieces to see and purchase. Also based here is the Red Atlas cafe,which opens early for breakfast and features a Happy Hour period towards the end of the day, from 16:00 to 18:00.
Open hours: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday - 08:00 to 20:00, Wednesday and Friday - 08:00 to 21:00, Saturday - 10:00 to 20:00, Sunday - 11:00 to 19:00
Admission: free

Tim Holmes Studio

Address: 446 North Hoback Street, Helena, Montana (MT), 59601, USA
Tel: +1 406 442 4233
This gallery is the personal studio of acclaimed local artist Tim Holmes, who is known for being the very first artist from the USA to be invited to exhibit his work at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg Russia. Visitors will be able to view and purchase a selection of paintings, sculptures, sketches and drawings.
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to 17:00
Admission: free

AL Swanson Gallery and Craftsmen Studio

Address: 46 South Last Chance Gulch Street, Helena, Montana (MT), 59601, USA
Tel: +1 406 443 3342
The AL Swanson Gallery and Craftsmen Studio is home to numerous pieces of quality handmade furniture, ranging from tables and chairs, to ornate cabinets, benches, serving trays and more. The walls are filled with paintings and drawings by local artists, while a cafe is located onsite, meaning that you can enjoy a hot drink whilst appreciating some art and watching a skilled furniture maker at work, through the soundproofed window.
Open hours: by appointment
Admission: free

Upper Missouri Artists Gallery

Address: 7 North Last Chance Gulch Street, Helena, Montana (MT), 59601, USA
Tel: +1 406 457 8240
Next to a fairly extensive choice of eateries, the Upper Missouri Artists Gallery is a good place to come for a quality souvenir of your time in Helena. There are countless paintings to see and purchase here, painted in mediums such as acrylic, oil and watercolor, as well as some unusual bronzes, Native American-inspired busts and carved wooden figures.
Open hours: Tuesday to Friday - 10:00 to 17:30, Saturday - 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: free