Art, nature and conservation come together at the Murie Ranch.
Join Teton Science Schools for a free, three-day community celebration featuring artist-led workshops, demonstrations, speakers, local art and creative activities for all ages.
The Murie Ranch has long been a place where people gather to exchange ideas, find inspiration and deepen their connection to the natural world. The Murie Ranch Art Festival continues that tradition by inviting artists, families and community members to experience the ranch through painting, writing, observation and conversation.
Festival events are free and open to the community. Artist-led workshops are $35 per participant and include supplies. Advance registration is encouraged for workshops with limited capacity.
Free community events
Festival Schedule
Explore talks, demonstrations and creative activities throughout the weekend. Artist-led workshops are listed separately below.
Friday · October 9
Observe & Create
1 PM
Murie Talk
Murie Ranch staff
Explore Murie history through anecdotes and stories that bring the ranch and its legacy to life.
3–5 PM · Drop-in
Meet the Murie Ranch Artist in Residence
Sarah Yeoman
Meet Sarah Yeoman as she works on a watercolor inspired by the Murie Ranch. Watch her paint, then add your own contribution to a community watercolor painting. All skill levels are welcome.
3–5 PM · Drop-in
Nature Buttons
National Museum of Wildlife Art staff
Make your own wildlife-inspired button! Sketch an animal or use stamps to create a one-of-a-kind design.
5–7 PM
Olaus Murie, the Artist
Katherine Wonson
Explore an often-overlooked side of Olaus Murie’s legacy. Historic preservationist Katherine Wonson traces his journey as an artist and his contributions to natural history art.
Saturday · October 10
Art in the Landscape
12–2 PM · Children’s drop-in activity
Harvest Print Workshop
Sam Ritchie
Kids of all ages can make fall-themed images using stamps cut from fresh apples and potatoes.
1 PM
Murie Talk
Murie Ranch staff
Hear stories from Murie Ranch staff and discover the people, history and ideas that shaped this special place.
2–4 PM · Family drop-in activity
Track Casting and Painting
Teton Science Schools staff
Make plaster casts of animal tracks, just as Olaus Murie did in the field. Once the casts dry, bring them to life with paint and your own artistic inspiration.
5–7 PM
Depictions of the American West
William Deverell, University of Southern California
William Deverell and USC PhD students discuss how art informs their work as historians of the American West. Each panelist will explore one artwork and its significance to their research.
Sunday · October 11
Community Celebration
11 AM–2 PM
Murie Ranch Art Fair
Explore local art and food vendors, Mountain Academy student artwork, kids’ activities and plein air painting demonstrations.
1 PM
Murie Ranch Tour
Explore the historic ranch with Murie Ranch staff.
3–6 PM
Murie Art Festival Capstone Reception
Celebrate the weekend with artwork created during the festival, including the community watercolor paintings. Enjoy music, food, a presentation by Sarah Yeoman and readings from participants in the Jackson Hole Writers nature-writing workshop.
An award-winning watercolorist and signature member of the American Watercolor Society, Sarah Yeoman is recognized for the strength of her storytelling and her ability to capture the fleeting qualities of light.
A painter for more than 35 years, Yeoman describes watercolor as her clearest creative voice. Her early career as a singer-songwriter continues to shape the lyrical and melodic qualities of her work.
Yeoman has exhibited internationally and inspired collaborations across artistic disciplines, including an original performance by the Elisa Monte Dance Company based on her painting I’ll Fly Away.
She has taught workshops throughout the United States, Canada and Tuscany, drawing inspiration from the Brandywine Valley and decades spent painting, paddling and exploring the Adirondacks. Throughout the festival, visitors can meet Yeoman, watch her work and learn about her creative process.
The inspiration
Olaus Murie: scientist, artist and conservationist
Olaus Murie painting in his studio at the Murie Ranch.
For Olaus Murie, science and art were inseparable ways of paying close attention to the natural world. He filled field journals with sketches, painted wildlife and landscapes, and used illustration to make scientific knowledge more accessible.
After Olaus and Mardy Murie moved to Jackson Hole in 1927, he began an extensive study of the valley’s elk herd. His understanding of elk movements helped shape his advocacy for expanding Grand Teton National Park to protect migration habitat across the valley floor.
Olaus carried the same patient observation into his paintings and influential writing, including A Field Guide to Animal Tracks. His legacy reminds us that creativity can deepen understanding—and that careful observation can inspire conservation.
This festival celebrates Olaus Murie’s enduring example: look closely, remain curious and let a deeper relationship with nature guide how we care for it.
Community collaborators
Many ways to make, learn and explore
Community partners bring a range of creative perspectives to the festival, offering visitors of all ages opportunities to experience the Murie Ranch through different forms of art.
National Museum of Wildlife Art: Drop-in nature button activity
Jackson Hole Writers: Nature-writing workshop and participant readings
Teton Plein Air Painters: Outdoor painting workshops and demonstrations
Mountain Academy: Student artwork inspired by connections to the Murie Legacy
Local artists and vendors: Art, food and creative exchange during Sunday’s celebration
Plan your visit
Join us at the historic Murie Ranch.
Come for a workshop, spend an afternoon exploring or experience the full festival weekend in Grand Teton National Park.
