If you’re in the Old Faithful area this summer, be sure to check out the limited-time art exhibits at the Yellowstone Art & Photography Center. This season’s exhibits feature the work of accomplished, contemporary painters interpreting the wonders of Yellowstone National Park.

The work of painter Shirl Ireland will be featured at the Yellowstone Art & Photography Center this summer.

Art and photography played a central role in the establishment of Yellowstone as the world’s first national park, and continues to help inspire its preservation. The Yellowstone Art & Photography Center, housed in a historic building near Old Faithful Geyser, was restored and repurposed by Yellowstone Forever to help tell those stories as well as inspire new generations of artists.

The Center’s gallery features a permanent collection of historic and contemporary art and photography with Yellowstone as the subject, and temporary exhibits change each summer.

The first new exhibit this summer features 14 oil paintings by Montana artist Shirl Ireland, on display through July 31, 2019. Living just outside the park, Ireland studies Yellowstone’s dramatic landscapes and amazing wildlife from her studio and frequently paints en plain air throughout the park. A prolific painter, her work spans all four seasons and includes animals, thermal features, plants, architecture, and landscapes.

Artist James McGrew paints at Artist Point at the 2018 Yellowstone Plein Air Invitational

From August 1 through September 30, 2019, the Center will display several pieces from artists who, along with Ireland, will participate in the 2019 Yellowstone Plein Air Invitational. This event, September 24-29, 2019, is open to the public and celebrates the current and historical presence of art in Yellowstone. Visitors will be able to watch 16 of the nation’s best artists painting in various outdoor locations throughout the park.

Visitors to the Yellowstone Art & Photography Center also have a chance to take part in free hands-on art activities, and interact with professional Artists-in-Residence. Check here for a current schedule.

The Yellowstone Art & Photography Center is located between the Visitor Education Center and Old Faithful Lodge. It is open for the season through September 30, seven days a week, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

VIDEO: ART IN YELLOWSTONE

Did you know, when early photographers visited Yellowstone they would carry hundreds of kilograms of equipment and supplies? A far cry from the selfie stick! Learn more about the legacy of art in Yellowstone.