Yellowstone Art Auction 2026

The Yellowstone Art Museum is pleased to be seeking Silent auction submissions, including small works, to be featured in Yellowstone Art Auction 58. The YAM’s signature annual exhibition and auction event raises crucial support for the exhibitions and educational programs that the museum presents to the community year-round. This exhibition will include silent and live auction artworks. Selected works will be on display at the Yellowstone Art Museum and online, beginning Friday, February 6, 2026, and culminate in a Silent and Live Auction Gala on Saturday, March 7, 2026.

Yellowstone Art Auction 58 (AA58) | February 6 - March 7, 2026

Yellowstone Art Museum (Billings, Montana)

!!This application is FREE with the coupon code YAM58 at checkout until September 1, 2025. Submissions received on or after Monday, September 1, 2025, will require a $35.00 application fee.

Important Dates:

• July 23, 2025 | Applications Open
• August 31, 2025 | Last day of FREE application with coupon code YAM58
• November 2, 2025 | Submissions close at midnight MST
• November 10-21, 2025 | Jury Window
• November 25, 2025 | Artists notified of jury’s results
• December 17, 2025 | Artwork & paperwork due to YAM
• February 6, 2026 | Opening Reception & Artist Party
• February 12, 19, 26, 2026 | Auction Artist Talks, TBD
• March 7, 2026 | The Night Gala & Live Auction, ticketed closing event

Invited artists will receive:

• Inclusion in the Yellowstone Art Auction 58 silent auction exhibition, which is presented in the museum’s main galleries, and runs from Friday, February 6 to Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the Yellowstone Art Museum in Billings, Montana.
• A special invitation to the opening reception and live auction gala.
• One copy of the full-color catalog.
• All juried works are included in the online catalog available on the YAM’s website.
• Widespread regional advertising and promotion of Art Auction 58.
• Special acknowledgment for artists making full donations (100%) to live or silent auctions on exhibition signage, catalog, and website.

• Completed application
• High quality digital images uploaded
• Brief Artist Statement.

Please keep in mind that the information submitted with this application informs print catalogues, online listings, museum labels and more. Any inaccuracies in your application will be echoed in all YAM productions. Please DOUBLE and TRIPLE CHECK spelling, titles, dates, pricing, DIMENSIONS, before submitting.

• Yellowstone Art Auction 58 is open to all original media (2-D and 3-D) except jewelry. Reproductions, including giclée and mechanical prints on canvas, will be disqualified.
• A MAXIMUM of TWO artworks may be submitted*. One detail reference image per entry is permitted. *If artists use their detail images to submit more than 2 works, those exceeding the maximum will be deleted and will not be viewed nor considered by the jury.
• AA58 will be juried based on the submitted digital photo entries, so please take care in representing your work.
• Submitted work must be created within the last five years.
• Works submitted to past Art Auctions are not eligible.
• Oversized objects are discouraged due to spatial considerations. Two-dimensional objects exceeding either 48 inches wide and/ or 72 inches tall, and three-dimensional objects weighing over 70 pounds are considered oversized.

Digital Image Requirements

• Digital images are required for submission (slides or prints will not be accepted).
• Label each image in a similar fashion, including the artist’s Last name, First name, and Title of the Work. (example: Smith_John_ Still Life 1.jpg or Smith_Jane_Autumn.jpg)
• Images should be at least 8” by 5” at 300 dpi.The quality of your artwork image affects jurying. Submit a high-quality image of the artwork only, excluding artwork frame. Selections may be disqualified if the YAM is unable to obtain a high-quality image before the catalog press deadline.
• Artists may only submit two images for each artwork entry (one full image and an optional detail image). Artists that believe additional detail images of their work are necessary may email up to 5 clearly labeled, high resolution images to events@artmuseum.org along with the artist’s name.

FOR ACCEPTED ARTWORKS:

Delivery of Artwork(s):

• Art must be delivered to the YAM no later than Wednesday, December 17, 2025. Please note that this deadline is earlier than years past and will be enforced to accommodate the museum’s best practices and our small staff- thank you!
• IMPORTANT: All 2-D works must be framed and/or ready to hang when they arrive at the YAM (finished works that are intentionally displayed without the addition of a traditional frame are OK but must be ready to hang) .
• All Artwork, especially 3-D pieces, must have proper supports, hanging devices, and clear instructions for installation, as needed. Any artwork that does not meet these requirements will be disqualified.
• The YAM will not be responsible for works that have been framed/mounted in an unstable manner.
• Only selected work will be included, no substitutions. Upon receipt of the actual work, the YAM reserves the right to disqualify work that was not adequately represented or suitably prepared for exhibition.

Mailed Artworks:

• Shipping to the YAM is the responsibility of the artist; at their expense. The YAM may choose not to include work that arrives after the deadline.
• Following the Auction, any unsold works will be returned to the artists at the YAM’s expense, via non-additional insured FedEx shipping.
• Artwork will only be shipped domestically. International shipping will be paid at the buyer’s/artist’s expense.
• Any unsold artwork will be returned in the manner & condition it was delivered. If an artist drops off art in-person to the museum the artist is responsible to arrange timely pick-up.
• Any artwork that remains unspoken for on YAM premises after April 5, 2026 will be managed in the terms outlined in the current artist-museum consignment agreement.
• NOTE: Artist’s shipping address must be current and accurate. If an artist changes residence at any time during the process of submission and exhibition, it is their responsibility to notify YAM staff (events@artmuseum.org) to ensure safe return of artwork and/or payment. If the YAM is not informed of a change in address until after payment for sales has been distributed, the check cancellation fee will be deducted from the total payment value.

Auction Pricing Information:

• SPLIT: At the annual Art Auction fundraiser, artists generously donate a predetermined percentage (50%, 75%, or 100%) of the sale proceeds to the Yellowstone Art Museum. The YAM will retain the percentage of the artwork’s final sale price selected by the artist within the application. The minimum donation (split) is 50%. We warmly thank and recognize those submitting 75% or 100% donations! Your support of the YAM goes far in maintaining the high quality of exhibitions and programs at the Yellowstone Art Museum. In gratitude, 100% donors will receive a complimentary Benefactor membership.
• RESERVE: Bidding for each piece will start at no less than 70% of the artist’s declared retail value. When establishing retail value, consider the price your work has recently sold for. Reserves may not be set at the retail value. Thank you for keeping in mind that this event is a museum fundraiser. Works sold at the reserve and below retail value are still subject to the artist's chosen split percentage.
• BUY-IT-NOW option allows patrons to side step competitive bidding and purchase silent auction works before the event's conclusion, at the full retail cost + a surcharge. Auction items purchased in this manner will remain on exhibit through the duration of the exhibition ending on Saturday, March 7, 2026. Buy-It-Now is available for most silent auction artworks, with some exclusions.