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7 | THE RUSSELL%u00ae EXHIBITION AND SALE 2026 THE RUSSELL%u00ae EXHIBITION AND SALE 2026Proceeds from The Russell%u00ae Exhibition and Sale generally represent 40% of the Museum%u2019s annual operating revenue. Therefore, a successful auction is critical to the institution%u2019s mission and programs.THE AUCTION%u2022 The Russell%u00ae 2026 was a strong success, generating a gross total of $6.17 million. A portion of those proceeds directly supports the museum, accounting for roughly half of its annual operating budget.%u2022 Across the weekend, 245 lots were auctioned, showcasing an exceptional range of Western art.%u2022 The Art Preview Party kicked things off with energy, welcoming more than 750 attendees for a lively start to the week.%u2022 Art in Action%u2122 once again proved to be a crowd favorite, drawing over 500 attendees and generating just over $190,000 in sales. Notably, 100% of those proceeds go directly to support the museum.%u2022 The First Strike Friday Night Auction brought in over 650 attendees and achieved a 100% sellthrough rate across 84 works by some of today%u2019s most sought-after Western artists, with total sales exceeding $380,000.%u2022 Capping off the weekend, The Russell%u00ae Live Auction welcomed more than 700 attendees and featured 162 lots, reaching a gross total of just over $5.1 million.ART AND ARTISTS %u2022 176 artists are represented in The Russell%u00ae.%u2022 While the weekend featured strong sales across a wide range of artists, four works stood out for there historic significance. The Rattlesnake (oil) by Charles M. Russell led the sale at $1,500,000, followed by The Run (oil) by Charles M. Russell at $875,000, The Bolter (watercolor and gouache) by Charles M. Russell at $819,000, and Finger That Kills Wins His Squaw (watercolor and gouache) by Charles M. Russell at $210,000.%u2022 Among contemporary artists, several works drew notable attention. The Beginning of the End (oil) by Luke Frazier, which was also awarded Best in Show for Saturday%u2019s Live Auction, sold for $72,800. Montana Memories (oil) by Gary Lynn Roberts followed with a strong result at $61,600.EDUCATION%u2022 Each year, educational programming associated with The Russell%u00ae is an important component of the lineup of events. Event Report: FBI Art Crime Team%u2014Art & Cultural Heritage Crimes. The Educational Symposium at the Montana ExpoPark drew over 240 attendees, marking our highest attendance to date. The session featured Special Agent Sean Dudley from the FBI, who provided a rare behind-the-scenes look at the FBI%u2019s Art Theft Program and Art Crime Team. Attendees learned about the investigation of art and cultural heritage crimes, including real-world case examples and the tools used to track and recover stolen works, such as the National Stolen Art File. The discussion also highlighted the broader impact of these crimes on museums, communities, and cultural institutions, underscoring the importance of collaboration in protecting shared cultural heritage. This program was offered free and was open to the public.%u2022 Over 700 4th grade students toured the museum in preparation for the 56th annual C.M. Russell Museum 4th-Grade Essay Contest, discussing %u201cWhy Charlie Russell is Important.%u201d%u2022 17 private, public, and rural Cascade County elementary schools and homeschool groups participated in the essay contest.CATALOGUE AND WEBSITE%u2022 2,000 catalogues were printed for The Russell%u00ae.%u2022 There were over 38,000 page views of The Russell%u00ae pages on the C.M. Russell Museum website.%u2022 People from 108 countries, ten Canadian provinces, and all 50 states visited www.cmrussell.orgOPPOSITE PAGE TOP: Charles M. Russell (1864%u20131926), The Bolter, 1906, watercolor and gouache, 15%u00bd x 22 in.BELOW: Images from the 2026 Russell Exhibition and Sale events, C.M. Russell Museum.