This beautiful painting captures a frosty winter moment on the north road in Yellowstone National Partk's Lamar Valley, where artist Jason Poole was approached in his jeep by a bison, as if the grand animal was checking his hair in the side mirror. "I was so stunned that I almost forgot to take a picture," said Poole.

Jason Poole has worn many hats: Adjunct Professor of Paleontology, scientific illustrator, art teacher, and paleontology field instructor. He has excavated dinosaurs on three continents, including Africa and South and North America. Paralititan, Dreadnoughtus, and Suuwassea are three dinosaurs Jason has worked on; all were new to science when discovered and two are supermassive titanosaurs. Jason is also a paleontological artist who's been published in National Geographic and whose art work appears in many museum and private collections.

Jason resides in Missoula and can often be found sketching in the studio and the great outdoors. Or you may find him at MNHC: Jason has taught various drawing and painting classes, has hosted lectures on Montana's ancient past, and is currently spending Tuesdays-Saturdays at MNHC preparing and conserving 150-million-year-old dinosaur fossils collected by Elevation Science Institute in Carbon County, Montana, during the 2025 field season.

Value: $6,000

Artist: Jason C. Poole

Title: Winter Bison

Medium: Acrylic on canvas. 48" x 48"

Thank you to Jason C. Poole! And thank you to Marlo Crocifisso from Art Haus for providing the framing of this piece.

Be honest, is there anything better than sipping your favorite tea or coffee from a beautiful, handcrafted mug?

These stunning ceramic tumblers are the perfect addition to your collection, with a touch of whimsy and a ton of quality!

Featuring a crisp white glaze and abstract lines, these ceramic pieces of art are unique, food safe, lead free, and can be used in a microwave or dishwasher.

This gorgeous "Butterfly" marquetry box can be used for jewelry, notecards, small treasures - and it is a treasure itself!

Marquetry is the art of creating intricate designs by fitting together individually cut pieces of thin wood, ivory, metal, etc. This is an original work of art. No two creations are the same. Each wood shown has its own unique wood grain pattern and color. This scene shows 16 individual pieces and 7 unique wood species.

Longtime MNHC supporter Don Stierle is a person of many talents, from biochemistry to birding to pottery. Every year he donates one of his beautiful clay creations, and every year we are amazed at the piece he's so lovingly crafted. This year's pot is glazed with lovely earth tones - pale green above with hints of deep reddish-brown beneath, and a gorgeous coppery interior. We imagine it would look wonderful displaying dried grasses and flowers.

Dimensions: 10.25" tall, 7" wide at the widest point, 6" mouth.

We love fossils, and we know you do, too. Lean into those fossil feelings with this fabulous basket, which includes everything from clothing to art:

• Gorgeous, classy "Trilobyte" print by David Lusk
• Metal Philips County Museum "Dinosaurs & Outlaws" sign, because doesn't that just say it all?
• Titan Duck medium t-shirt in the color and style of the John Deere logo. Do with that what you will.
• Maiasaura medium t-shirt, honoring one of Montana's great fossil finds
• An onXmaps premium membership, which provides everything you need to plan, map, and hunt fossils in your preferred state (Montana, we know it's Montana)
• A old-timey bottle of whiskey barrel aged red wine, because it looks cool
• Two extremely fierce-looking toy dinosaurs, to keep you company while you search. Or to have pretend dino-fights with. We won't judge.
• A 6-pack of Big Sky IPA, to help you kick back and relax after your day of exploring
• Deck of sturgeon playing cards, because the evenings get long in fossil country
• A Pastasaurus for all your noodle needs!

This stunning sage grouse photo was taken by RT Cox. Best known for their spectacular courtship displays, the males will gather on leks (traditional dancing grounds) in large numbers and strut with their chests puffed out and spiky tails spread, hoping to attract females.

This framed photo of a sunlit white-breasted nuthatch was taken by local birder and photographer RT Cox.

13"H x 15"W

Spruce up your kitchen with these gorgeous offerings from Valley House Woodworking.

Counter Brush - Crafted of walnut, tampico fiber, and leather. Handmade. Finished in VH's own food-safe and all-natural blend of mineral oil and beeswax. Never dishwasher safe.

Sunday Set - Four cocktail napkins made of 100% Oeko-Tex EU linen, with scrap walnut spreader. Finished in VH's own food-safe and all-natural blend of mineral oil and beeswax. Never dishwasher safe. Care card included.

Market Bags - Three sizes of reusable produce bags. Made of 100% Oeko-Tex EU linen with French seam construction.

Beautiful, handmade fabric artwork by Linda Helding. 12x12 collage in 20x21 custom frame with mat.

This serene watercolor by Montana artist Nancy Fitch captures the quiet beauty of Rattlesnake Creek as it winds through Missoula. Soft washes of blues and greens evoke the movement of clear mountain water beneath dappled sunlight. River rocks and conifers line the banks, their reflections shimmering in gentle ripples. In the distance, the foothills rise in muted tones, suggesting a crisp morning or late-summer afternoon. Nancy's delicate brushwork and keen sense of light convey both the vitality and tranquility of this beloved local landscape, inviting the viewer to pause and feel the calm presence of nature.

An 8x12 print by Cynthia Fisher in a 17x21 custom frame.

Handcrafted by the talented Pat Jamieson and crocheted with Herrschners cheerful fleece yarn, this hooded afghan is not only impossibly warm and cozy, it's styled after Montana's gorgeous blue Steller's Jay, with a vivid blue body and a dark head and feet. Take home this beautiful afghan just in time for winter!

This impossibly soft, warm, snuggly bear afghan was crocheted by longtime supporter Pat Jamieson. Just the size for your toddler...or young kiddo...or your own lap. Just in time for cozy season!

Take home this gorgeous handcrafted pottery water dispenser, complete with wooden spigot and corks. Your drinking water has never tasted better!

Bring the movement of water and wildness into your home with this 12x20 original acrylic fish painting.

The world is stressful right now. What you need is a little self care, a little rest, and, yes, a little reminder of your power, to give you the energy to do all the good you do every day. We promise this basket will help! It includes:

• A 12-oz bag of whole bean MONSTER coffee for maximum fierceness
• A solid, beautifully crafted mug to warm your hands and your soul
• A gorgeous lepidopteran blank journal and a fireweed botanical art kit to connect you to your creative self
• Montana Prairie wool felted soap to scrub the worries of the world away
• A bottle of 2020 Lafage Narassa from France's Agly Valley, known for its black slate soils and relentless tramontane wind, to remind you of the richness that comes from adversity (also: WINE)
• A pair of dangly leaf earrings and an idgaf t-shirt for a little flirty pizzaz
• A funky canvas bag to carry it all, along with the weight of the world

Bring a bit of the wild into your home with this beautiful sharp-tailed grouse canvas print, taken by local birder and photographer RT Cox.

16"H x 20"W

This gorgeous pair of small acrylic paintings on wood by the amazing Nancy Seiler will add color and whimsy to any home.

Each piece is 8"x8".

The return of Mountain Bluebirds in the spring brings joy to our hearts. With this gorgeous framed photograph, taken by birder and photographer RT Cox, you can feel that joy year-round, and have visual proof that yes, these lovely little birds really are THAT BLUE.

22"W X 19.5"H

Framed Wilfdflowers of Montana print by Rich Adams.

10.5"x13.5" print with 14"x17" custom frame and mat.

This beautiful bitterroot flower acrylic painting by Randy Zielinski weaves naturalism and surrealism. Bold brushstrokes and colors make this a vivid focal point for any room. Perfect for lovers of Montana's state flower, art, and nature!

11"x14" metal print in 14"x17" custom frame.

Nancy Seiler's aspen paintings are iconic and stunning and YOU deserve to have one! This 18"x24" piece is acrylic on birch panel, and draws you right into the vivid beauty of a fall aspen grove.

Bring a little bit of wild Montana into your holiday decorations with this wool felted bison ornament handcrafted by Claudia Paillao of Patagonian Hands!

One of photographer Steve Slocomb's favorite subjects is wildflowers of the Rocky Mountains, and his trademark style incorporates the sun as a design element, for stunning effect. Bring the glory of early spring into your home with this glacier lily photo!

Montana birders will love this elegant framed word collage of their favorite familiar birds, crafted in stunning calligraphy by Missoula artist Ann Franke.

Ann's artistic goal is to combine the physical beauty of unique letter-forms with the content of the words to touch the eyes, mind and heart of the viewer.

One of photographer Steve Slocomb's favorite subjects is wildflowers of the Rocky Mountains, and his trademark style incorporates the sun as a design element, for stunning effect. Bring the glory of early spring into your home with this trillium photo! Trillium flowers are white when in peak bloom, and turn purplish-pink as they fade.

This one-of-a-kind papier-mache bat sculpture was painstakingly crafted by Aaron Conway (husband of MNHC auction goddess Beth Conway) and painted by Samuel Conway (Beth's son) (yes, the Conway family is insanely talented) for this year's banquet & auction. And YOU have the chance to take it home! Comes with stand (read: you must take the stand).

This one-of-a-kind papier-mache raven sculpture was painstakingly crafted by Aaron Conway (husband of MNHC auction goddess Beth Conway) and painted by Samuel Conway (Beth's son) (yes, the Conway family is insanely talented) for this year's banquet & auction. And YOU have the chance to take it home! Comes with stand (read: you must take the stand).