Collection: Phoebe Knapp Collection

Biography

Phoebe Knapp, a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design with post graduate work at the California College of Arts and Crafts, is a third-generation rancher on the Crow Reservation near Ft. Smith in south eastern Montana. She has exhibited widely in the western states and her work is collected throughout the U.S. She divides her time between Ft. Smith and Billings, where she has a studio in the city's historic district. 

Artist Statement

As a three-dimensional artist, I find my installations show a strong interest in archaic and primitive art, geometry, architecture and topography. I am inspired by working in wood because it is alive with memories and surprises, making each piece totally unique and a real challenge. I carve or saw large chunks of wood or entire logs, which are hard to come by in eastern Montana, so the material I find dictates the concept I envision. Because the medium is inherently irregular however, it’s energies often result in the sculptures taking on lives of their own.