Montana in Focus: A Conversation with photographer J.M. Cooper at Missoula Art Museum

Step into the beauty of the Montana landscape through the eyes of photographer J.M. Cooper. This special event celebrates Cooper’s exhibition “Adel Sheep Shearing, Sieben Live Stock Company” on view at the Missoula Art Museum from October 3 through February 21, 2026. The striking black-and-white series documents the rhythms and rituals of ranch life at the historic Sieben Live Stock Company—a Montana ranch founded in 1868 and still in operation today.

Through a live conversation with the artist, we’ll explore how Cooper’s work captures the enduring spirit of the West and how it connects to the remarkable true story told in the new biography, Henry Sieben and the Montana Story by Ciara Ryan. The book will be available for purchase at the event. Visitors will have the opportunity to hear from the artist, view the exhibition after hours, ask questions, and engage in an evening shaped by stories of labor, land, and legacy.

Whether you’re drawn to photography, Western history, or the quiet strength of everyday life, this event offers a rare and moving glimpse into Montana’s working landscapes and the people who sustain them.

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