Glacier Country News

Kristi Hager, a multifaceted artist known for her contributions as a painter, performance artist, and photographer, has posthumously gifted her significant art collection to the University of Montana's Montana Museum of Art and Culture (MMAC). Hager, who passed away in November after battling cancer, was a longtime supporter of the university.

Her bequest includes not only her own works but also pieces by contemporary artists such as Matt Hamon, Amanda Jaffe, Kathleen Herlihy-Paoli, Kathryn W. Schmidt, and Leslie Van Stavern Millar. Rafael Chacón, MMAC's Suzanne and Bruce Crocker Director, expressed both mourning for Hager's loss and celebration of her achievements and generosity.

The museum will host an exhibition titled "Homage: the Legacy of Kristi Hager," which will open with a member preview on February 19th and to the public on February 20th. Born in Wilmington, Delaware in 1946, Hager held degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Delaware before moving to Montana in 1981. She established a studio in Butte where she began creating paintings that often reflected themes of environmentalism.

Hager was inspired by the Berkeley Pit near Butte—a site that influenced much of her work focused on natural resource conservation. Her engagement with this theme led to public performances like "Cool Water Hula," advocating for environmental clean-up efforts.

In Missoula since 1994, Hager occasionally taught at UM’s School of Visual and Media Arts while integrating advocacy into her artistic practice through hula performances. Her work often explored formal elements like light and color while addressing issues such as environmental degradation.

The female nude played a significant role in her oeuvre; she used it to critique contemporary culture through politically charged representations. This aspect was highlighted in a 2022 MMAC exhibition featuring works from Missoula’s Pattee Canyon Ladies Salon.

Hager also created photography that paralleled her painting and performance work—primarily capturing images meant as archival records for institutions like the Library of Congress.

For further information about Kristi Hager's legacy or the upcoming exhibition at MMAC, interested parties can contact Tracy Hall or Rafael Chacón via provided contact details.