Gala 2023 - Yellowstone Art Museum

THE NIGHT at the YELLOWSTONE ART MUSEUM
Saturday, September 9, 2023

A Gala & Live Auction honoring groundbreaking YAM Director (1974 – 1998), Donna Forbes.

Cocktails at 5 PM | Dinner at 6:30 PM | Auction at 7:30 PM

Enjoy specialty cocktails, live music by the Billings Symphony, a gourmet dinner, and competitive bidding on artworks created by some of the region’s most notable artists. This year we honor Donna Forbes, groundbreaking YAM director for more than two decades. Plus, be first to hear special announcements as the YAM ushers in its 60th anniversary year in 2024. Join us, there is much to celebrate!

Black tie encouraged.

Ticket Add-on Option: When you purchase your gala ticket, a special edition print by photographer Todd Forsgren is also available. All purchases benefit the YAM building initiative and permanent collection.

Registration for absentee bidding and live phone bidding are available here. All absentee and phone bidders must register with the museum by 12 PM MST Friday, September 8, 2023.

Participating Artists

John Buck
Deborah Butterfield
Josh DeWeese
Tom Ferris
Edith Freeman
Jeneese Hilton
Gesine Janzen
Christine Joy
Jodi Lightner
Tracy Linder
Roxy Paine
Ben Pease
Barbara Van Cleve
Willem Volkersz
Theodore Waddell
Patti Warashina

Gala Sponsors

Title Sponsor
The Oakland Companies

Lead Sponsor
Lornel Baker

Table Sponsors
Eide Bailly LLP
Red Lodge Clay Center
Rocky Mountain College
Steve and Jennifer Corning
Jon Lodge & Jane Deschner
Deborah Anspach & Dr. John Hanson
Matthew & Stephanie Stroud
Susan Sullivan & Steve Zabawa

Supporting Sponsors
The Lawrence Lithography Workshop
Hindman Auctions

Special Thanks
Billings Symphony
Caramel Cookie Waffles Co.
Kirks’ Grocery
Riversage Billings Inn
Town & Country Foods
Todd Forsgren
Maron Hindman
Keeara Rhoades

For more information regarding sponsorship and table availability, please contact Precious McKenzie at development@artmuseum.org or call 406-256-6804 x225.

New this year!

Luck of the Draw Raffle

Purchase a Luck of the Draw Raffle ticket and win the chance to select one designated Auction Artwork. The winner will be drawn during The Night Gala and Art Auction and may select one of the following artworks: Roundup Barn Grid, by Tom Ferris, Blueprint to Rewrite History, by Jodi Lightner, or UNION, by Christine Joy.

All proceeds from the Luck of the Draw Raffle will support the YAM’s Art Acquisition Fund for the Permanent Collection. Tickets are $100 each and only 100 tickets will be sold. All tickets must be purchased in advance as an add-on option when purchasing your gala ticket, or in person during The Night Gala and Art Auction event.

Artworks not selected by the raffle winner will be auctioned during the event as planned.

Supporting Events for The Night Gala and Art Auction

Friday, August 4 | 6 – 8 PM

Art Auction Exhibition Opening Celebration
Take a first look at the artworks that will be available for auction during The Night Gala event. Hosted during First Friday and ArtWalk, this celebration will include many artists from the auction itself, as well as festive drinks, food, and music.

Thursdays, August 10 & 24 | 5 PM Reception and 5:30 PM Artist Talk

These events are free to the public and museum admission is free on Thursdays from 5–8 PM.

Auction Artist Gallery Talks
Join Art Auction artists in the YAM’s Montana Gallery to learn more about their work and process.

August 10 | Tracy Linder
Join us for an artist talk with Tracy Linder, one of our featured artists from The Night at the Yellowstone Art Museum Gala and Auction. Linder’s work is defined by the life she’s lived, rooted in the knowledge and experiences had growing up on a farm in south-central Montana. Her creative process has become an exploration of life and death. Her work and what is created, then becomes biographical through presentation, lighting, surface, and detail, commanding a visceral response from the viewer.

August 24 | Ben Pease
Join us for an artist talk with Ben Pease, one of our featured artists from The Night at the Yellowstone Art Museum Gala and Auction. Inspired by a photograph of Crow elders at the Inauguration of the First Crow Indian Baptist Day School in location, this work by Ben Pease includes deeply personal and historical references. The story of the school intersects with Pease’s own family story as his great-grandmother was a student. In much of his artwork, Pease considers the legacy of colonization and the mistreatment of Native communities on current and future generations.