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Freeman W. Butts
1928 - 1998

"A retrospective exhibition always reminds me of a finely detailed map. Both the major highway and the deadended trails are there to see. Where did new explorations take place? Where was an idea abandoned that was not important to the long search?


It is a pleasure for the Yellowstone Art Center to present the work of Freeman Butts. The artist has generously given us permission to choose what we felt would represent his long love affair with paint. The four decades of work in this exhibition reflect a number of the major movements that have dominated the visual arts since the late 1940's.


The catalog essay by Johanna Hays si a sensitive tribute to Freeman's expressive a n d joyful paintings. Former Curator Sheila Miles, Assistant Director Gordon McConnell and
Curator/Registrar Terry Karson of the Art Center staff selected the work in the exhibition, a n d Gordon was responsible for the design and details of the publication.


I want to thank Miriam Sample for funding the cost of this exhibition as part of her ongoing support of Montana art and artists."


Donna M. Forbes Director

 

Freeman Buts: A Retrospective, organized by the Yellowstone Art Center.  Major funding for the exhibition and publication was provided by Miriam Sample.
Exhibition: January 25 - March 10, 1991

 

 

 
 
 
"This man in the wheelbarrow is Freeman Butts, a man I barely knew. As soon as I saw his paintings, however, I knew he was a pro. His production, which consisted of the human figure and landscapes was so spontaneous and prolific that it was obvious that he knew his subject matter. He learned his craft in L.A., but had tired of the city and decided to move to the small town of Bozeman, MT. My collection of 30 pieces is a drop in the bucket compared to the hundreds that he painted."
 
Lela Autio
From Paint to Plexi
2013
 
 
The following is a letter written to Robert Butts, Freeman's son, from Lela Autio (it was written in all capital letters).
 
BOB
 
I JUST RECEIVED YOUR ADDRESS FROM TINA DEWEESE...WHICH I SHOULD HAVE DISCOVERED LONG AGO BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO LOOK. I WAS A GREAT FAN OF YOUR FATHER'S WORK EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T KNOW HIM WELL. MY NAME IS LELA AUTIO AND I HAVE PUT TOGETHER A VERY SMALL PUBLICATION OF MY LIFE IN ART. ON THE VERY BACK PAGE (PG. 65), I USED A PHOTO OF YOUR DAD THAT WAS PROVIDED TO ME BY THE MISSOULA MUSEUM. I HOPE I CAN HAVE YOUR BELATED PERMISSION TO DO THIS.....I'M NOT SELLING THESE. I'M GIVING THEM AWAY....TO ARTISTS AND FRIENDS. ALSO, I'D LIKE TO SHARE A STORY WITH YOU ABOUT YOUR DAD.

MY HUSBAND, RUDY, AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT HIM ONE DAY SOME YEARS AGO AND I SAID, "I THINK FREEMAN IS THE BEST PAINTER IN THE NORTHWEST". HE AGREED. SOME TIME LATER, RUDY WAS INTERVIEWED BY SOME MAGAZINE WRITER AND HE REPEATED THAT. APPARENTLY IT APPEARED IN PRINT AND YOUR DAD READ IT. SOME TIME LATER, WE HAPPENED TO VISIT HIM IN LIVINGSTON WHEN HE WAS OLDER AND ILL. HE WAS IN HIS TRAILER, WRAPPED IN A BLANKET. AFTER WE SAT DOWN TO VISIT, HE SAID, "RUDY, I READ THAT YOU SAID I WAS THE BEST PAINTER IN THE NORTHWEST". THEN HE BEGAN TO CRY. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO...
IT BROKE MY HEART. | HELD HIM IN SUCH ESTEEM, I FELT LIKE CRYING TOO.
 
MAYBE ONE DAY, WE'LL MEET;
LELA
 

 

KGLT Fund Drive

10% of all sales during the KGLT Fund Drive will be donated to KGLT in support of Montana Public Radio. Enquire for details.

 

 

Danforth Museum of Art

The artwork of Freeman Butts features prominantly in the permanent collection of the Danforth Museum of Art in Livingston, Montana.  Visit the Danfourth to see more work by Freeman Butts and experience the town of Livingston, Montana.

 

 

Freeman Butts [1928-1998] was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He studied on the GI Bill at the Hollywood Art Center School and worked at Disney Studio before painting alongside the abstract expressionists of the 1950s. 

 

Later in his life he relocated to Livingston Montana, his work developed to define a signature language in his direct approach to merge a figurative style with abstraction, incorporating looseness, fluidity of line and speed of execution. 

 

 

 

The work of Freeman W. Butts is in permanent collections of the following Montana Museums; The Missoula Art Museum, The Custer County Art Museum in Miles City, The Hockaday Museum of Art in Kalispell, The Holter Museum of Art in Helena, The Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art in Great Falls, and The Yellowstone Art Museum in Billings.

 

Artworks on this website are for sale, please inquire for prices and availability. 

 

The Freeman Butts website now partners with Art Money, a new, easy way to buy art.  It allows you to hang your art at home and pay over 10 months, interest free.  Find out more or apply at www.artmoney.com.