Grand Prize winner: Jordan Lefler for Still Here

As a proud descendant of the Bitterroot Salish and a lifetime resident of Montana, I was raised on the Flathead Indian Reservation, where the land itself was my first teacher. The mountains, rivers, and wildlife that surrounded me instilled a deep respect for nature and a desire to tell its stories.

My photography is shaped by that upbringing, each image a reflection of my connection to place and heritage. I’m drawn to the quiet moments between storms, the soft light on distant peaks, and the traces of life that tie people to the land. Through my work, I aim to honor the landscapes that raised me and share the calm, strength, and beauty that can be found in Montana’s untamed spaces.

https://jordanlefler.darkroom.com/

Artist Statement regarding “still here”

This image was created as part of a series bringing awareness to the Missing and 
Murdered Indigenous Women crisis in Montana. Photographed at night, I used a single flash to bring the subject out of the darkness, a visual reminder of the women and families whose stories too often go unseen. This project was about using art to bring attention, visibility, and a voice to an issue that continues to deeply affect Indigenous communities across our state.

Danielle O’Malley (Helena)

Danielle O’Malley is a Montana-based sculptor whose hand-built, large-scale ceramic work increases people’s environmental awareness. O’Malley received her MFA from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, in May 2021. In addition to an active studio practice, O’Malley teaches, exhibits nationally, and serves her community as Executive Director for the Art Mobile of Montana and Coordinator for Montana Clay.

O’Malley’s work is monumental in scale and symbolic message, and inventive in materials such as crocheted plastic bags, up-cycled fabric, and woven flagging from construction sites. Her combinations of scavenged materials, re-contextualized through textile processes with her earthen forms, are startling in scale and create a sense of urgency about the eco-crisis. The confrontational feeling of larger-than-life work in one’s space is unavoidable and highlights concepts of environmental concern and warning. Exaggerated scale increases the artwork’s significance and challenges the viewer by altering the scale of familiar forms. 

https://www.omalleyart.net/

Kami Love (Red Lodge)

Kami Love is a Montana-based photographer originally from Huron, South Dakota. Her passion for photography is inspired by adventure, world travel, and capturing authentic moments that tell a story. Outside of photography, Kami serves in the Air National Guard, pursues a career in nursing, and volunteers with local fire and EMS departments and a veterans nonprofit. She enjoys hunting, fishing, horseback riding, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. Through her lens, she hopes to preserve meaningful moments, celebrate Western traditions, and share the beauty of the world around her.

https://www.kamilovephotography.com/

Juli Pace (Bozeman)

Juli Pace is a Bozeman-based photographer, creative director, and visual storyteller with a genuine love for people, animals, and the stories that connect us. As founder of Raven’s Frame Media, she brings an artistic perspective to branding, architecture, and equine fine art, believing that people and places alike hold stories worth telling. A creative educator and mentor, Juli has helped emerging artists find their voices and build businesses of their own. She finds the greatest joy in discovering stories through conversation and the lens of her camera, capturing not just what we see, but what we feel. Juli lives in Bozeman with her husband and two boys.

https://ravensframe.com/

Emilee Luke (Havre)

A military brat born in Italy, Emilee grew up moving between Missouri, Alaska, and Colorado, then earned her degrees in Alabama before finding her home on Montana’s Hi-Line. A life of constant moves taught her to pay close attention to any new environment she’s in, and her landscape and aerial photography explores how our experiences shape the way we perceive the land around us. A few years after her mother’s death, she left her higher education job to run her business, Emilee Rose Photography, full-time. She lives with her partner and pup, and plays piano in a local band.

https://emileerose.com 

Grand Prize winner: Jordan Lefler for End the Silence. 

As a proud descendant of the Bitterroot Salish and a lifelong resident of Montana, Jordan Lefler was raised on the Flathead Indian Reservation, where the land itself served as a first teacher. The surrounding mountains, rivers, and wildlife instilled in a deep respect for nature and a desire to tell its stories.

Jordan’s photography is shaped by that upbringing, with each image reflecting a profound connection to place and heritage. Drawn to quiet moments between storms, the soft light on distant peaks, and the traces of life that tie people to the land, Jordan aims through his work to honor the landscapes that raised him and to share the calm, strength, and beauty found in Montana’s untamed spaces.

Jessica Bower for her piece, New Pie. 

Jessica Bower was born and raised in Billings, Montana. She attended both the University of Montana and Montana State University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art Education. Jessica has greatly enjoyed her work in Early Education and Special Education. She currently lives in the Bull Mountains with her family—a husband, three sons, and a lively collection of animals, including cats, dogs, chickens, and goats. There, she strives to love humanity, respect nature, and live a creative life.

Andrew "AJ" Butler for his piece, Heart of Culture

AJ Butler is a multifaceted visual artist from the heart of Montana’s Hi-Line. Growing up in Box Elder, Montana, and now residing in Havre, AJ has cultivated a deep connection to the people, land, and cultures that define the region. A proud member of the Little Shell Tribe, AJ’s artistic journey has also been shaped by the traditions and teachings of the Rocky Boy’s Tribal community—whose customs and cultural influences are woven throughout his work. With over a decade of artistic experience, AJ considers himself an all-around Hi-Line artist, blending traditional and contemporary forms of expression. His diverse body of work spans pencil, colored pencil, pastels, acrylic and airbrush painting, metal art, and mixed media creations. Each piece reflects his appreciation for craftsmanship, cultural storytelling, and the natural beauty of Montana life. In addition to his artistic practice, AJ serves his hometown as an Industrial Technology teacher, sharing his skills and creativity with the next generation. His dual roles as educator and artist reflect his commitment to community, culture, and creative innovation.

Jordan Lefler for his piece, Casting for Gold.

Bulbul Majumder for her piece, Plains Guardian

Bulbul Majumder was born in Kolkata, India, and began her artistic education at Rekha Chitram before earning degrees in Electrical Engineering from Jadavpur University and the University of Mississippi. Now based in Butte, Montana, she creates luminous watercolor paintings that explore the interplay of light, atmosphere, and emotion. Her work has been exhibited nationally, including at the Philadelphia Watercolor Society, Montana Watercolor Society, Watercolor Society of Alabama, and American Women Artists. A Signature Member of Women Honor Society and American Women Artists, she received the Ginny Coombs Award for Excellence from the Philadelphia Watercolor Society’s 124th International Exhibition.