Exhibit Archives

Leonard Lopp: Glacier Park Artist 
 July 23 to October 16, 2004

Many Glacier, Oil on Canvas, 26" x 36", by Leonard Lopp, Collection of Jane and Robert Lopp

Leonard Lopp, best known for his seasonal oil landscapes glorifying Glacier National Park, is one of the Flathead Valley's most interesting personalities. From the colorless Dakota homestead where he was raised, he headed west and built a grand life as a painter and entertainer. Roaming throughout North America, Lopp performed with the Chataqua and Pantages tent circuits, did quick art paintings in Canada's Hudson Bay Company stores.

Margaret and Leonard Lopp in
Glacier National Park

Robert Lopp, the son of Leonard Lopp, 
will give a pre-reception talk about his father's life 
and his artwork at 5:00 pm on August 5

Leonard Lopp became artist-in-residence from 1938 to 1941 at the Many Glacier Hotel. His paintings were treasured mementos for Park visitors during that grand era of rail travel, and a status symbol in the 1940s and '50s for prosperous grain farmers in Montana' s Golden Triangle just east of the Park. Lopp's artistic success culminated in an exhibition at New York City's prestigious Milch Gallery, and in the building of Rocky Haven, one of the most handsome homes on Flathead Lake. Here, near Somers, Leonard and Margaret Lopp entertained both Hollywood and local socialites, including founders and early patrons of the Hockaday Museum of Art. 
Now, 44 years after his last exhibition, the Hockaday is pleased to honor Leonard Lopp as one of the great historical artists of Glacier National Park with an exhibition featuring over 50 major works from his prolific career. 

Leonard Lopp (Center) presents a
painting to Harry S. Truman (Center Right)
at the dedication of Hungry Horse Dam




Director's Highlight Tours -- 20-minute tours of the Leonard Lopp exhibit will be given August 11 at 1 pm, 
August 19 at 5 pm, and September 9 at 1 pm.

A full color Leonard Lopp exhibition catalog and notecards featuring Leonard Lopp paintings, are available from the Museum's Off the Wall Gift Gallery. Your purchase supports our exhibit and education programs.