Montana Western Fine Arts Gallery Presents the Works of Kim Giannone

The University of Montana Western is honored to present The Works of Kim Giannone, an exhibit celebrating the life and work of the late artist and student. This exhibit features work by Giannone from several different series, including “Sweat and Sagebrush,” “The Early Years,” journals, and other draft prints. The exhibition will open on Thursday, April 16, and will feature an opening reception from 5:00–7:00 p.m. in the Fine Arts Gallery located in Main Hall.

Kimberly Giannone, born in Philadelphia on December 23, 1979, whose life was cut short by advanced ovarian cancer, passed away on December 11, 2025. Kim was a resident of Polaris, MT, a student at the University of Montana Western majoring in Environmental Sustainability, and an incredibly talented photographer and artist. Her work documented the full visual and emotional spectrum of her life in an authentic and raw way that is rare to encounter. Kim was a force to be reckoned with and was a well-loved friend, partner, family member, student, and member of the Dillon, Grasshopper, and Big Hole communities. She worked at several local ranches and businesses and was a local powder hound at Maverick Mountain.

Kim grew up in inner-city Philadelphia, in a loud, colorful world full of hustle and bustle, finding beauty and solace in singular moments of time. Photography became her main tool to explore, learn, and document. After studying photography in Boston in her early twenties, she traversed the country, working seasonal jobs and living on the road. As she grew older, a strong instinct to spend more time in sparse and natural places began to germinate. The endless countryside and the lives that dotted the vast landscape became her main interest.

Her work is an inquiry into the relationship between human beings and the natural world we inhabit and continue to modify. Kim used photography, writing, audio recording, and mixed media journaling to process observations and interactions with communities within developed metropolises, the rural countryside, and the remote wilderness.

In “The Early Years” series, Kim captures growing up in Philadelphia, reveling in the chaos of life in the city streets. She was given a camera in her late teens and found she could use this tool to freeze time—keeping moments and memories in her own small museum. She fell in love with the faces of strangers and the buildings and man-made objects that seemed to overtake anything remotely natural. Constantly observing her environment, she sought to capture and hold onto each moment, becoming focused on finding stillness within motion. She appreciated the juxtaposition of man-made creations with the natural world and found joy in how people could appear out of place in nature. She aimed to capture the changing color and light from the beginning to the end of each day.

“Sweat and Sagebrush” portrays Beaverhead County, Montana—a vast, sparsely populated landscape of snow-capped mountains, sagebrush valleys, and dirt roads—where ranching has been the economic and cultural backbone since the 1800s. It celebrates multigenerational ranching families with deep knowledge of land and animals, self-reliance, craftsmanship, and hard work, while also revealing the often-overlooked labor behind the romanticized American West.

Despite enduring traditions and passion, ranching feels increasingly threatened and may become more rare over time. Kim believed ranchers are among the most multifaceted and resourceful people, with extensive knowledge of land and animals. Living remotely requires a wide range of skills. They maintain their own equipment, buildings, and livelihoods. The fabric of their lives is deeply interwoven with time, tradition, pride, craftsmanship, and hard work.

In addition to these two series, several draft photographs from other series will be on display, along with her journals, which are filled with drawings, collages, and writings reflecting her daily experiences.

Kim will be profoundly missed in this community, at the University of Montana Western, and by her family and friends. She will be awarded a B.A. in Environmental Sustainability from Western this spring, and her sister will receive it in her honor. A scholarship will also be established in her name: the KG Environmental Sustainability Action Scholarship.

This exhibit will be on display in Montana Western’s Fine Arts Gallery from April 16 to May 6. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00–11:00 a.m. and 12:00–3:00 p.m.

There will be an opening reception on April 16 from 5:00–7:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. Please join us to honor the life and work of Kim, share stories, and remember the curiosity and care she brought to those around her.

The exhibit was made possible by Kim’s partner, Ryan Welty, and by the generous support of the UMW Foundation.

For more information, please contact Montana Western Fine Arts Gallery Coordinator Jennifer Boysen at jennifer.boysen@umwestern.edu.

To learn more about Kim Giannone’s impact on the Montana Western community, read our feature story, “Kim Giannone’s Lasting Impact at Montana Western,” on the university website.