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A Conceptual Thread

May 31, 2025 - November 2, 2025

ON VIEW MAY 31, 2025 – NOVEMBER 2, 2025

A Conceptual Thread is a celebration of textile and fiber arts—quilting, weaving, tapestry, and knitting. This medium, historically created by women and often with utility in mind, has been viewed as craft rather than fine art. This exhibition aims to refocus our attention on the exceptional artistry of these works. In addition to narratives of wildlife and nature, exhibiting artists, like Dawn Williams Boyd and Cauleen Smith, address themes of hope and resilience in their artworks. Their pieces memorialize what has been lost or could be lost. The time-consuming and meditative nature of working with fabric and fibers speaks to the artists’ devotion and determination to share these stories, and their ability to balance beauty with the harsh realities of the world.

The exhibit will not only highlight the work of professional artists with pieces from the Museum’s permanent collection and on loan, but also actively involve Museum visitors by inviting them to participate. A large communal loom will be installed in the Wapiti Gallery; Museum visitors will have the opportunity to contribute to the exhibition by weaving on this loom during their visit. Local artists will lead workshops in knitting, weaving, and tapestry throughout the summer, providing the community with hands-on learning experiences.

In conjunction with A Conceptual Thread, the Museum is hosting a mini artist-in-residence program with fiber artist Doris Florig, an artist featured in the exhibit. During the residency, Florig will demonstrate tapestry weaving and speak with visitors about her methods and materials. The residency will take place Monday, July 7, through Friday, July 11, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Sullivan Hall. Each day, Florig will weave her tapestry inspired by the Absaroka Mountain Range, while inviting visitors to ask questions. Her program will be inclusive of all ages and is free to visitors with an admission ticket or Museum membership.

Not able to visit us in person? Click below to explore a 3D virtual tour of the exhibition:

Isabel Oliva, Monarch IV, 2022. Jacquard weaving, woven with silk and treated with acid dye. 35 x 20 inches. © Isabel Oliva Art.
Cauleen Smith, Leave Me For the Crows, 2017. Satin, poly-satin, silk-rayon velvet, indigo-dyed silk-rayon velvet, indigo-dyed silk satin, acrylic fabric paint, poly-silk tassel, sequins, and metal rod. 78 x 51½ inches. Courtesy of the artist and Morán Morán.
Deborah Simon, Flayed Rabbit: Albino with Cells, 2018. Polymer clay, faux fur, linen, embroidery floss, acrylic paint, glass, wire and foam. 26 x 10 x 8 inches. © Deborah Simon. Courtesy of the artist and Dan Wonderly.
Dawn Williams Boyd, 35,812 Feet Below Sea Level: Challenger Deep, 2022. Assorted fabrics, cotton embroidery floss, and mixed media. 59 x 30 inches. © Dawn Williams Boyd. Courtesy of the artist and Fort Gansevoort, New York.
Bailey Russel and Kiana Henny, The Plants of Wyoming, after Anna Atkins, 2024. Photograms on cyanotype coated cloth, stitched. 68 x 51 inches. © Bailey Russel and Kiana Henny.
Other Exhibits
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Staff Picks

Through May 10, 2026

Curating this exhibit has been an exercise in collaboration, which is one of our core values at the Museum. We began by asking each staff member to make a short list of some of their favorite works in the collection. Then, the curatorial team took them to see a few of those pieces. We asked the staff to look for artworks that were not already on display and would not be part of any upcoming exhibitions. A person’s taste in art is so uniquely personal and individual to who they are. This exhibition is not only an opportunity for you to get to know our staff, but it is also a chance to discover new pieces in the permanent collection—or perhaps to see old favorites in a new light.

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Two of a Kind?

Through April 26, 2026

This exhibition is an exercise in comparison. It invites visitors to consider pairs of artworks, drawn primarily from the Museum’s permanent collection, and contemplate the question posed by its title: are these artworks truly Two of a Kind?

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What People Are Saying
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"The most fabulous gallery that we have ever seen and enjoyed. Highlighting the plight of our animal kingdom is so important! "
— Nancy H.
"One of the most amazing museums I have ever visited. Everything—not just art, is amazing. "
— Elizabeth C.
"Phenomenal gallery! Exquisitely curated! Must-see highlight of our trip. P.S. Lunch was also delicious!"
— Jen R.
"Amazing collection of art. This is truly a special place!"
— David L.
"Absolutely incredible! We will be back!"
— Sebastian D.
"Love the variety of art, the historic documentation, and how attitudes changed and developed about wilderness and wildlife. Plus, wonderful interactive areas!"
— Bill S.
"Lunch was fab - the trout po' boy and lettuce wraps, wow!"
— Pamela Ann S.
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— Monica M.