By Missoula Current

Several works by the late Lela and Rudy Autio are currently on display in the Main Hall lobby at the University of Montana as part of the Montana Museum of Art & Culture’s special tribute to the legendary Missoula artists.

The temporary exhibition, held in conjunction with the Missoula Art Museum’s exhibit “Nexus: The Lela and Rudy Autio Family Collection,” is free and open to the public through June 23 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Rudy Autio was a founding resident artist at the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts in Helena, after which he headed the ceramics program at UM for 28 years. His ceramics, graphics and paintings form an important part of the MMAC Permanent Collection.

Lela Autio served on MMAC’s Collections Management Committee for many years and remained active in the museum’s programming calendar. She was instrumental in orchestrating loans of art for the spring 2016 exhibition, “Presence: Rudy Autio and Henry Meloy.”

“This artistic couple holds a special place in our hearts, having influenced so many young artists, so many colleagues and so many appreciators of art,” said Barbara Koostra, the MMAC’s Suzanne and Bruce Crocker director. “We miss both Rudy and Lela dearly.”

The MMAC’s Paxson and Meloy galleries are located in UM’s PAR/TV Center. Gallery hours are noon to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, and noon to 6 p.m. Thursday and Saturday. The galleries are closed Sundays, Mondays and UM holidays.

The museum is open to the public with a suggested $5 donation. For more information call 406-243-2019.

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