Exhibition: Women’s Work, Honoring Lela Autio, Dana Boussard and Nancy Erickson

In honor of Missoula Art Museum’s (MAM) 50th anniversary in 2025, they will present Women’s Work, an exhibition celebrating the pioneering women who laid the foundation for MAM in 1974. This exhibition honors the groundbreaking work of Lela Autio, Dana Boussard, and Nancy Erickson three artists who defied societal expectations and reshaped Missoula’s artistic landscape.
In 1974, these visionary artists proposed an exhibition of their soft sculptures at the University of Montana, only to have their work dismissed as "women's work." Undeterred, they found an unexpected home for their art in the empty Carnegie Library, a pivotal moment that helped create MAM in 1975. Dana Boussard reflects, “The best thing for me to do was not project that I was a girl doing a girl thing but to project that I was an artist doing artist things.”
Their shared studio space became a catalyst for collaboration and friendship. "It was a way for us to get to know each other and start collaborating,” Boussard recalls. “Lela and I were both painters, so it was natural for us to begin experimenting across different dimensions.” Their collaboration challenged artistic norms and embodied the values of community and creativity that continue to drive MAM today.
The Women’s Work exhibition is a celebration of the legacy of Autio, Boussard, and Erickson, whose work continues to influence and inspire. While not a direct recreation of their 1974 exhibition, the show offers a glimpse into the revolutionary nature of their work. Women’s Work stands as a testament to the courage of these artists, who turned rejection into revolution and created an institution that continues to push artistic boundaries.