Wild Women Paint the West 2025
September 5 – September 6, 2025
Illume Gallery West
130 East Broadway Street
Philipsburg, Montana 59858
Building on the artistic excellence of eight nationally acclaimed artists, Illume Gallery West presents Wild Women Paint the West 2025. This dynamic exhibition brings the unique voices and seasoned perspectives of artists Cindy Baron, Suzie Baker, Shanna Kunz, Kim Lordier, Stephanie Marzella, Lori McNee, Elizabeth Robbins and Romona Younquist, together for a visual fresh take on nature and humanity.
Event Details
RECEPTION & SALE
Friday, September 5th, 5-9pm
QUICK DRAW
Saturday, September 6th, 10-2pm
Come and watch the artists finish a gallery painting!
There will be a drawing for purchase of these pieces at 2:00 pm.
Scroll down to see a preview of the show!
Suzie Baker
If I could go back and whisper something to my little girl self, I’d say: “One day, your job will be to travel to breathtaking places, paint the beauty you see, and share it with the world—surrounded by other artists who inspire you, challenge you, and laugh with you along the way.”
I’m honored to be a part this inaugural "Wild Women Paint the West" exhibition with a group of extraordinary artists. We’ve painted side by side, shared stories, supported one another —and I couldn’t be more grateful.
To call this a career feels too small. It’s a calling, a community, and a joy my younger self couldn’t have even imagined. - Suzie Baker
Suzie Baker
"For many artists, the workday is a solitary one. Not for me. I thrive on connection, travel, and variety. As a plein air and studio painter, I’m lucky to have the whole world as my workplace—and a community of exceptional artists as my coworkers. These friendships enrich my life and elevate my art.
I’m proud to stand alongside this remarkable group of wild, supportive, and immensely talented women."
Suzie Baker
Shanna Kunz
I am so grateful to be joining seven other nationally recognized women artists in beautiful Philipsburg, Montana for a special studio and plein air exhibition hosted by Illume Gallery and the ever-inspiring Jane Lundgren, a true lover and supporter of the arts. These women are more than just incredible painters—they’re dear friends, creative kindred spirits who share their knowledge, passion, and perspectives freely. There’s no competition here, only deep respect and a collective desire to see beauty and express it with honesty and heart. Our work is stronger because of each other, and I can’t wait to share what we create together in this truly special place. - Shanna Kunz
Shanna Kunz
Kunz’s mastery lies not only in what she paints, but in how she paints it— allowing space for introspection, for breath, for connection. Her paintings are deeply sought after by collectors across the country, drawn to the calm authority and emotional depth of her work. - Jane Bell Lundgren
Shanna Kunz
Elizabeth Robbins
When professional women artists come together to paint and support one another, the experience is both empowering and creatively enriching. In these shared spaces, there is a deep sense of camaraderie and mutual respect that transcends competition. Ideas are exchanged freely, techniques are shared generously, and encouragement flows naturally. Beyond the canvas, these gatherings often become a source of personal growth, confidence, and enduring friendships. The collective energy not only strengthens our artistic practice but also reinforces the importance of community in a field that can often feel isolating. -Elizabeth Robbins
Elizabeth Robbins
In Honored Past, I sought to honor the deep cultural and spiritual heritage embedded in Native American traditions through the powerful symbolism of the feathered headdress. This oil painting is not just a representation of an artifact, but a reverent reflection on the strength, wisdom, and dignity of those who came before. The headdress—painted with careful attention to texture and light—floats against a dark, undefined background, suggesting both mystery and timelessness. Its form speaks quietly, yet powerfully, of leadership, identity, and ancestral legacy. I approached this subject with humility and respect, aiming to evoke a sense of stillness and reverence in the viewer. Through this work, I hope to acknowledge and celebrate the enduring presence of Native cultures and invite reflection on the histories they carry forward.
Elizabeth Robbins
Stephanie Marzella
I was very fortunate to be invited to paint in Idaho with a group of professional women artists I greatly respect. Women who have endeavored to work their way to the top of their field. Camping and painting together was a bonding adventure, and gave us all the opportunity to get to know and learn from one another. Not all of us had met in person before so that was another bonus. I look forward to our next adventure together and hope we have many more. - Stephanie Marzella
Stephanie Marzella
With this painting I tried to capture the romance of a moonlit western night. I loved the many fields we came across and the wildflowers amongst them. The fields were edged by evergreens standing tall. Camping gave us the opportunity to enjoy the night and sit in the moonlight.
Stephanie Marzella
Kim Lordier
We are full of grit and grace, this collective of amazing artists. Spurred by mother nature in all her forms, we dance together with brush in hand as our kindred spirits soar.
Truly grateful for this opportunity to showcase our new paintings on the revered walls of Illume Gallery West with the amazing Jane Lundgren at the helm.
I’m excited to share my journey through the west with you all. From the highest of Alpine Lakes to the intimate moments where deer whisper in the woods, join me on the wild ride through our beautiful back country. -Kim Lordier
Kim Lordier
Romona Youngquist
Dreams do come true! Chasing the beautiful Montana light with 7 other incredible painters will be an adventure of a lifetime. I’ve been intrigued with Montana since my early painting days when I discovered Russell Chathams paintings and Ivan Doig’s books set in Montana.
Thank you to the one and only Jane Lundgren from Illume Gallery is making this Dream come true, a reality. - Romona Youngquist
Romona Younquist
Lori McNee
Lori McNee
There’s a rhythm to the wilderness that I’ve come to know well. I photographed this grizzly family in the Tetons: Grizzly 610 and her sub-adult cubs, moving through the snowy silence one April. The experience was raw, beautiful, and just wild enough to make your heart race. Back in the studio I re-imagined that moment. The brilliant blue melt-water, the sharp contrast of fur against snow, and the silent power of their stride stayed with me. Snow Drifters is a tribute to their presence and the wild places that inspire me.
Lori McNee
Cindy Baron
Inspiration is a big powerful word. To describe what moves me, it would be the landscape we are privileged to live in. I have the honor of learning different areas of the country and painting internationally. Each place has taught me so much, and I make sure I use it wisely. There is inspiration in everything, thumbing through a magazine, colors in nature or going thru a museum and learning from the masters. I find it with the women in this show, that’s inspiration.
Cindy Baron
I love painting landscapes, and it’s as simple as that. The mountains bring me peace; seascapes bring me excitement, and a sunset makes me want more. I’m inspired by so many things, it could be color, shapes or the atmosphere, but it’s unique, simple and powerful.
“Cascading Life” is a small portion of a double waterfall that I captured in Yosemite. It was about shapes, color and movement. You could have missed it driving into the east side, but it caught my eye because of the three aspects that make for a good composition.
Cindy Baron
“We need the tonic of wildness…At the same time that we are earnest to explore and learn all things, we require that all things be mysterious and unexplorable, that land and sea be indefinitely wild, unsurveyed and unfathomed by us because unfathomable. We can never have enough of nature.”-Henry David Thoreau