DOWNING RECOGNIZES ERIN GRAF AS JULY “MONTANA INNOVATOR”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Troy Downing (MT-02) recognized Erin Graf as a “Montana Innovator” for the month of July. Conducted in partnership with the Montana 250th Commission, the initiative highlights notable Montanans ahead of America’s 250th anniversary. Each month features a different theme, with July honoring achievements in arts, culture, and literature.

Read the full recognition below:

"This month, I am proud to recognize Erin Graf, a Harlowton native who has dedicated her career to capturing the beauty of God’s creation through the landscapes of rural Montana.

Erin studied fine art at Montana State University from 2001 to 2006, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in printmaking and a bachelor’s degree in K-12 art education. She also received MSU’s Award of Excellence for Art, presented to the top graduating students in the department.

Primarily a self-taught oil painter, Erin became a full-time artist in 2015 after spending a decade coaching track and field at Montana State.

In 2019, she held her first solo museum exhibition at the Great Plains Art Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska. The four-month exhibition, titled Montana: Prairies to Peaks, featured 35 works. Erin also served as the museum’s artist-in-residence, and two of her paintings were added to its permanent collection.

Erin co-founded the Three Rivers Artists Guild and previously served as president of Southwest Montana Arts. She also served for five years as chair of the Bozeman Art Museum’s Board of Directors. Her work has appeared in numerous solo and group exhibitions, and she regularly uses her art to support important causes.

Through her work, Erin shares Montana’s remarkable landscapes with audiences across the country. It is my honor to recognize her as a Montana Innovator who embodies the spirit of arts, culture, and literature in our state."

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