In 1973, three pioneering women artists—Lela Autio, Dana Boussard, and Nancy Erickson—proposed an exhibition of their soft sculpture at the University of Montana in Missoula, but were denied because their work was dismissed as "women's work." Undeterred, they staged their own exhibition in the empty Carnegie Library building in 1974, a year before the Missoula Art Museum (MAM) was founded. Now, MAM's special exhibition "Women's Work" celebrates the museum's 50th anniversary by showcasing the works of these three artists, including several pieces by Nancy Erickson (1935-2022) such as "Rainbow Flight" (1974), "Montana Selective Cut: Official Visit" (1974), and "Pattee Canyon Fire" (1977).
This exhibition matters because it reclaims and honors a pivotal moment in feminist art history, when soft sculpture—often marginalized as craft or domestic labor—was boldly presented as fine art. By revisiting the 1974 show, MAM underscores its founding commitment to diversity and community-centered, audacious work, while also highlighting the enduring legacy of artists like Erickson, who participated in over 500 exhibitions worldwide. The show serves as both a historical corrective and a celebration of the museum's inclusive roots.