Friday · October 9
Observe & Create
- Painting and sketching
- Nature-inspired activities
- Watercolor demonstration with Sarah Yeoman
- Jackson Hole Writers workshop
- Presentation on Olaus Murie as an artist with Katherine Wonson
October 9–11, 2026 · Moose, Wyoming
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.
October 9–11, 2026Friday through Sunday
Free Community Festival$35 artist-led workshops
The Murie RanchGrand Teton National Park
A celebration rooted in place
See the natural world through an artist’s eyes.
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.
Festival overview
Three days of creativity and connection
Saturday · October 10
Art in the Landscape
- Plein air painting
- Family-friendly activities
- Time with Sarah Yeoman in the Murie Studio
- Presentation on depictions of the American West with Bill Deverell
Sunday · October 11
Community Celebration
- Local art and food vendors
- Mountain Academy student artwork
- Kids’ activities, demonstrations and tours
- Closing reception with art, music, food and readings
Artist-led workshops
Make art in connection with nature
Advance registration is encouraged. Workshops are $35 per participant, with supplies included and a festival t-shirt.
Friday, October 9 · 1–3 PM
Specimen Painting
With Andy Taylor
Practice close observation and explore the details of the natural world through specimen painting.
Saturday, October 10 · 9 AM–12 PM
Plein Air Session: Oil Painting
With Andy Taylor
Paint outdoors at the Murie Ranch while learning techniques for capturing the surrounding landscape in oils.
Saturday, October 10 · 3–5 PM
Celebrating the Unremarkable Wild
Nature-writing workshop with Jackson Hole Writers
Use observation and writing to find meaning, beauty and story in the everyday details of the natural world.
Sunday, October 11 · 1–3 PM
Block Printing with Nature
With Katy Ann Fox
Create a nature-inspired block print while exploring shape, texture and pattern found in the landscape.
2026 Artist in Residence
Sarah Yeoman
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.
Meet the artist
Watercolor, light and storytelling
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
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.
Murie Ranch Art Festival
October 9–11, 2026
The Murie Ranch
1 Murie Ranch Road
Moose, Wyoming 83012
Festival events are free and open to the community. Artist-led workshops are $20 per participant, with supplies included.
