The Russell

Western collectors and Charlie Russell fans flock to the event that bears the artist’s name in Great Falls, Montana.

Great Falls, MT

When you go to The Russell, you expect to see lots of work by hometown hero Charles M. Russell: big ones, little ones, watercolors, oils, bronzes, ones worth only—only!?—$25,000 and Russells worth millions of dollars.

And once again, The Russell has lived up to its reputation. From March 21 through 23, Western collectors made Great Falls, Montana, home for the annual event put on by the C.M. Russell Museum. This year’s festivities once again included a huge selection of events and activities: art preview parties, the famous Art in Action quickdraw, a fashion show, a presentation of new work by the Russell Skull Society of Artists, an educational symposium and two live auctions.

“Year after year, The Russell unites tremendous art and great friends in a celebration of Charlie and the West he loved. While the auction provides vital support for the museum’s annual operations, The Russell has proven a premier forum for attendees to reaffirm and reinvigorate why they too are inspired by the West. Sell-out crowds, consistent sales, fun entertainment and great memories remain the hallmark of The Russell and it fuels the museum’s dedication to ensuring the event only gets better each year,” says Thomas

Figarelle, the museum’s executive director. “Thanks to this focus, and the gracious support of buyers and sponsors alike, the museum is able to advance the ‘art & soul’ of the American West through compelling exhibitions and educational programming.”

This year’s event racked up an impressive $4.7 million, with $149,760 coming from the Art in Action quickdraw event. Top sellers included Mike Barlow, Michael Blessing, Tom Dean and Russell regular Andy Thomas. The First Strike auction brought in more than $420,000, including $46,800 for a piece by Adeline Halvorson, All Legs, which surpassed its high estimate of $7,000 six times over.

The big haul, though, came from the main event, the Russell Live, which brought in more than $4.1 million, the bulk of which came from the sale of works by Russell. Not only did Russell have the top lot, but he also had the top seven lots. All totaled, Russell works raked in nearly $3 million across 10 works. The top lot was Approach of White Men, which sold for $1,369,000, within its estimates of $1.25 million and $1.75 million. It was followed by Indian with Bow (est. $600/800,000) that sold for $753,000, and Indian Scout (est. $225/325,000) that sold for $409,500.

Other non-russell highlights included

Frank Schoonover’s The Rustler of Wind River (est. $40/50,000) that finished at $58,500, and Jeremy Winborg’s A Storm on the Horizon, which sold for $46,800, nearly triple its high estimate of $18,000. Winborg has had two important auction pieces sell at The Russell, including his world record set in 2018.

Bidders watch as artworks cross the auction block in Great Falls.

Charles M. Russell’s Approach of White Men is offered to bidders at the Russell Live. The piece would go on to sell for $1,369,000.

1. Troy Collins with his family, Gina Collins, left, Mika Collins and Taylor Wilson. 2. Native American dancers open The Russell. 3. Dealers Thomas Nygard, left, and Curtis Tierney. 4.Thomas Minkler, left, with painter William Matthews. 5. Painters Elizabeth Robbins, left, and Michele Usibelli. 6. Live music at the annual event. 7. Crowds at the sale. 8. Tom Gilleon stands next to a piece by Guy Deel. Gilleon served as the model for the work decades earlier. 9. Chad Poppleton at the Art in Action event. 10. Native American performers open the show. 11. Artist Maur Allen with one of her works. 12. Jennifer Johnson shows off her finished quickdraw piece.