Barb Schwarz Karst's 'Montana Rust Belt' Exhibition + Artist Meet & Greet at Cello Gallery

Montana Rust Belt: an exhibition of colorful contemporary abstract paintings depicting Montana’s abandoned industries will be on display at Cello Gallery beginning on Friday, September 9, 2022. Opening reception and artist meet-and-greet is Friday, September 9th from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at Cello Gallery in downtown Bozeman.

Barb Schwarz Karst’s Montana Rust Belt series presents a colorful revival of Montana’s abandoned industries and has recently been featured in Bozeman’s AC Hotel and MSU’s freshly renovated Romney Hall. The artist’s inspiration for these richly colored abstract paintings comes from the veiled beauty she finds within the unforgiving dents, corroded steel, and collapsing shells of fading mechanical workhorses of the industrial era. Schwarz Karst describes the collection as her painterly homage to the hardworking men and women who lived and died in Montana, doing whatever it took to maintain their families’ survival. Newly created, never-before-seen, paintings will be added to her widely popular Montana Rust Belt series exclusively for this exhibition.

The Missoula native is highly regarded among the art community, and has acquired numerous awards, achievements, and professional training throughout the years. Most recently, she has become an acclaimed three- time award recipient of the National Society of Painters in Casein and Acrylic at the Salmagundi Club in New York City. Prior to receiving this prestigious award, Schwarz Karst received a fellowship to study with the Teacher Institute of Contemporary Art (TIKA) at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Additionally, she holds an MIS Graduate Art degree from the University of Montana and a B.S. in Art Education from Eastern Montana College.

Schwarz Karst’s professional works have been featured in worldwide and domestic exhibitions, museums, print publications, as well as corporate, private, and traveling collections throughout the United States.