Set on a picturesque 12,500-acre working sheep and cattle ranch, Montana’s Tippet Rise Art Center presents a unique combination of classical and contemporary music performances alongside large-scale outdoor sculpture. With prior registration through Tippet Rise, visitors can access the ranch and explore its dramatic artworks on free hiking and biking tours across the property.
© Tippet Rise
This summer the art center expands its outdoor collection with four new sculptures joining the existing installations and architectural works scattered across rolling meadows and hills. Alongside pieces by internationally recognized artists and architects—including Alexander Calder, Francis Kéré, and Stephen Talasnik—Tippet Rise will introduce new works by Ai Weiwei, Mark di Suvero, and Ensamble Studio. Sculptor Patrick Dougherty will also return to recreate his 2015 installation Daydreams.
Several site-specific commissions by Ensamble Studio are already integrated into the landscape. Among these are the Beartooth Portal (2015), two vertical, rock-like forms that rise roughly 25 feet and lean together at the top; the similar Inverted Portal (2016), reaching 26 feet; and the expansive Domo (2016), which measures 98 by 16 feet. Francis Kéré’s pavilion, Xylem (2019), sits quietly within a stand of aspen trees, offering a sheltered spot for reflection and rest.
© Tippet Rise
Tippet Rise opens to visitors beginning June 10 and operates Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through September 25. The grounds feature 13.25 miles of trails open for hiking and biking, allowing guests to experience the sculptures and architecture in their natural setting. The music season runs weekends from August 26 through September 25 and includes world premieres and artist debuts. Note that prior registration on the Tippet Rise website is required for all visitors at all times.
The art center is located about six miles from the small town of Fishtail in Stillwater County. Nearby regional centers such as Billings (approximately one hour away) and Bozeman (about two hours away) offer lodging and dining options as well as outdoor activities—whitewater rafting, mountain biking, and hot springs among them—that can complement a visit to Tippet Rise.