Photos: Artist Bill Stockton's life and work
Images of Bill Stockton's home and work on his sheep ranch near Grass Range and the opening of "Bill Stockton: Grass Roots Modernist" at the Yellowstone Art Museum.
Bill Stockton
A photo of Bill Stockton sits on a bookshelf in his home on the ranch near Grass Range on Oct. 24.
Bill Stockton
Artist Bill Stockton modified the Sears kit home on the ranch to be a flat-roofed modern house near Grass Range on Thursday, October 24, 2019.
Bill Stockton
Gilles Stockton looks at family photos in his parents' home on their ranch near Grass Range.
Bill Stockton
One of artist Bill Stockton's final pieces is on display in his son Gilles' home on the family ranch near Grass Range on Thursday, October 24, 2019.
Bill Stockton
A photo of artist Bill Stockton during art school is on display in his home on the family ranch near Grass Range on Thursday, October 24, 2019.
Bill Stockton
Gilles Stockton holds a family photo that was the basis for one of his father's paintings.
Bill Stockton
Two books by artist Bill Stockton of Grass Range, pictured Thursday, October 24, 2019.
Bill Stockton
A painting by artist Bill Stockton is on display in his son Gilles' home on the family ranch near Grass Range on Thursday, October 24, 2019.
Bill Stockton
Artist Bill Stockton handmade many of the furnishings in the modified the Sears kit home on the ranch near Grass Range on Thursday, October 24, 2019.
Bill Stockton
A hanging bird ornament and brown leaves are silhouetted in the kitchen window of Bill Stockton's home on the ranch near Grass Range on Thursday, October 24, 2019.
Bill Stockton
Gilles Stockton shows visitors his parents' home on their ranch near Grass Range.
Bill Stockton
Some of Bill Stockton's art is on display in his son Gilles' home on the family ranch near Grass Range on Thursday, October 24, 2019.
Bill Stockton
Artist Bill Stockton modified the Sears kit home on the ranch near Grass Range to be a flat-roofed modern house. Many of the books on the shelf are in French.
Bill Stockton
A drawing by artist Bill Stockton is on display in his son Gilles' home on the family ranch near Grass Range on Thursday, October 24, 2019.
Bill Stockton
Artist Bill Stockton modified the Sears kit home on the ranch to be a flat-roofed modern house near Grass Range on Thursday, October 24, 2019.
Bill Stockton
The view from Bill Stockton's ranch near Grass Range.
Bill Stockton
The view from Bill Stockton's ranch near Grass Range.
Bill Stockton
Gilles Stockton walks down a two-track path between his home and his parents' home on their ranch.
Bill Stockton
A painting by artist Bill Stockton based on a family photo is on display in his son Gilles' home on the family ranch near Grass Range.
Bill Stockton
The view from Bill Stockton's ranch near Grass Range.
Bill Stockton
A welded sculpture by artist Bill Stockton is on display in his son Gilles' home on the family ranch near Grass Range.
Bill Stockton
A photo of artist Bill Stockton's mother on her homestead near Winnett is on display in his home on the family ranch near Grass Range on Thursday, October 24, 2019.
Bill Stockton
A photo of artist Bill Stockton's wife and children is on display in his home on the family ranch near Grass Range on Thursday, October 24, 2019.
Bill Stockton's "Start of Autumn," 1954
“Bill Stockton: Grass Roots Modernist” is on display through Jan. 5 at the Yellowstone Art Museum, featuring more than 120 of the artist's works, from his first painting to his last.
Bill Stockton
A photo of artist Bill Stockton's mother Julia with her children is on display in his home on the family ranch near Grass Range on Thursday, October 24, 2019.
Bill Stockton
A photo of artist Bill Stockton and his sons is on display in his home on the family ranch.
Bill Stockton
A photo of artist Bill Stockton's parents is on display in his home on the family ranch near Grass Range on Thursday, October 24, 2019.
Bill Stockton
Gilles Stockton looks at family photos in his parents' home on their ranch.
Bill Stockton
A Stockton family photo is on display in Bill Stockton's home on the family ranch near Grass Range on Thursday, October 24, 2019.
Bill Stockton's "Reeds," 2002
Bill Stockton's final painting, titled "Reeds," was painted shortly before his death in October, 2002. The artist was most prolific toward the end of his life, when he was free from the day-to-day obligations of running a sheep ranch outside of Grass Range.
Bill Stockton
Gilles Stockton looks at family photos in his parents' home on their ranch near Grass Range.
Bill Stockton
A photo of artist Bill Stockton in his Army uniform is on display in his home on the family ranch.
Bill Stockton: Grass Roots Modernist
Visitors walk through the "Bill Stockton: Grass Roots Modernist" exhibition at the Yellowstone Art Museum on Thursday, November 7, 2019.
Bill Stockton: Grass Roots Modernist
Visitors walk through the "Bill Stockton: Grass Roots Modernist" exhibition at the Yellowstone Art Museum on Thursday, November 7, 2019.
"Wind and Bent Trees"
Bill Stockton worked with minimal tools, often from pencil or livestock markers that were part of his everyday life. He focused on scenes, zoomed into the distinctive characters of the Montana prairie.
Bill Stockton: Grass Roots Modernist
Visitors walk through the "Bill Stockton: Grass Roots Modernist" exhibition at the Yellowstone Art Museum on Thursday, November 7, 2019.
Bill Stockton: Grass Roots Modernist
Visitors walk through the "Bill Stockton: Grass Roots Modernist" exhibition at the Yellowstone Art Museum.
Bill Stockton: Grass Roots Modernist
A scultpure on display in the "Bill Stockton: Grass Roots Modernist" exhibition at the Yellowstone Art Museum on Thursday, November 7, 2019.
Bill Stockton: Grass Roots Modernist
Visitors interact with a "Ewe-phemism generator" in the "Bill Stockton: Grass Roots Modernist" exhibition at the Yellowstone Art Museum.
Bill Stockton: Grass Roots Modernist
Visitors walk through the "Bill Stockton: Grass Roots Modernist" exhibition at the Yellowstone Art Museum.
Bill Stockton: Grass Roots Modernist
Visitors walk through the "Bill Stockton: Grass Roots Modernist" exhibition at the Yellowstone Art Museum on Thursday, November 7, 2019.
Bill Stockton: Grass Roots Modernist
Handmade furniture on display in the "Bill Stockton: Grass Roots Modernist" exhibition at the Yellowstone Art Museum on Thursday, November 7, 2019.
Bill Stockton: Grass Roots Modernist
An advertising sign is on display in the "Bill Stockton: Grass Roots Modernist" exhibition at the Yellowstone Art Museum on Thursday, November 7, 2019.
Bill Stockton
Stockton is shown in 1972 on his ranch in Grass Range. Stockton's livestock marker and pencil on paper work, "Lone Pine," is a combination of pure abstraction and Modernist treatments of the land and people he knew.
The Billings Gazette May 22, 1971
A photo from the May 22, 1971, edition of the Billings Gazette shows a dead lamb sent to Gazette reporter Roger Clawson by artist and rancher Bill Stockton.
As featured on
More than 120 pieces of Stockton's work are exhibited at the Yellowstone Art Museum through the new year, and a new documentary on his life will screen at the YAM Thursday.
