Montana Museum of Art & Culture crowns winners of ‘19 Under 39’ exhibition; artists highlight Indigenous voice, craft and motherhood

The Montana Museum of Art and Culture’s juried exhibition "19 Under 39," which showcases work by emerging artists under age 39, closes tomorrow after six months on view and a panel discussion at the museum in Missoula.

Rafael Tracon, director of the Montana Museum of Art and Culture, opened the evening by thanking donors Lauren and Michelle Hanson and museum staff for making the biennial exhibition possible, calling it “their brainchild” and saying the prize program allows the museum “to collect the art of our own time.”

The selection committee awarded purchase prizes and a People’s Choice honor. Aspen Decker, who works in Indigenous ledger art, received the first-place purchase prize; Maya Clough, a ceramic sculptor, received second place; Grace Brogan, whose work blends traditional craft and contemporary sculpture, received third place; and Rachel Marjima won the People’s Choice award.

“The work featured in the show here was 3 pieces,” Maya Clough said when introducing herself, and later called the prize “immensely gratifying” after years as a working studio artist. Decker said placing her ledger work in Missoula matters because it returns Indigenous voices and narratives to land where those histories have been suppressed: “I really wanted to, use this opportunity to be able to bring our Sedlish, our Kootenai voices back to our homeland,” she said, noting the piece references removal from the Bitterroot Valley.

Panelists and moderator Nicole Evans, curator at Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art, used the conversation to discuss several recurring themes raised by the exhibition: representation of Indigenous artists, the porous line between craft and fine art, motherhood’s influence on practice, and the difficulties artists face building careers. “Fine art cannot exist without good craft,” said Grace Brogan, describing craft as foundational rather than secondary.

Several artists described the logistical and economic barriers that shape artistic careers. Brogan, Clough and others said motherhood and caregiving often require adapting schedules, curating opportunities carefully and “planning time to experiment.” Clough and others urged younger artists to remain open to experimentation and to “plan time to experiment,” advice they said they received from mentors.

Panelists also emphasized community connections. Brogan described large-scale works developed in collaborative studio environments; Marjima discussed working with community organizations in Butte and upcoming shows; and Clough highlighted teaching and public-facing studio practice as ways to reciprocate skills and build audience support.

The panel closed with practical notes about where to see artists’ work next: Marjima will speak at the Montana Museum of Art and Culture at 2 p.m. tomorrow; Clough has a January group exhibition at Radius and a solo show scheduled next summer at the Salem Art Association that will travel to Echo Arts in Bozeman in 2026; Brogan’s work may tour through Montana Art Gallery Directors Association member venues; and other artists mentioned residencies and fairs such as Tin Works in Bozeman and the Santa Fe Indian Market.

The museum’s “19 Under 39” program was described as explicitly intended to expand MMAC’s contemporary collection and support early-career artists through purchase awards, public programming and touring opportunities. Tracon said the Hansons’ donations “allow us to do this exhibition and to make it a biennial exhibition,” and he thanked museum staff and the selection committee for organizing the show.

The exhibition’s final public events include Rachel Marjima’s artist talk tomorrow at 2 p.m. at the Montana Museum of Art and Culture; the museum said the program will return in a future cycle. Documentation of the panel was filmed by Missoula Community Access Television.