Lynn Haste • Montana• waow
My work begins with a moment in the natural world — a quiet encounter, a held gaze,
or a fleeting gesture from an animal that lingers long after the moment has passed.
Lynn Haste is a Montana-based painter and sculptor whose work explores the emotional connection between animals, nature, and the human experience. Since 1979, she has created artwork for private collectors, commercial clients, and public art organizations, developing a body of work rooted in storytelling, atmosphere, and close observation of wildlife and rural life.
Originally from Florida and largely self-taught, Haste works across painting, sculpture, mural design, and public art. Her artistic inspiration is deeply tied to the outdoors and the natural world, especially the wildlife and landscapes she has experienced while fishing, rafting, and camping throughout Montana. Her work often reflects themes of curiosity, family connection, resilience, and quiet wonder within the animal world.
Throughout her career, Haste has completed five life-size public sculpture installations as well as several community mural projects created in collaboration with youth groups in Texas. Her public works include projects in Bryan and Aiken, where her art has contributed to educational, historical, and community-centered spaces.
Known for combining realism with warmth and emotional narrative, Haste creates paintings and sculptures that invite viewers into intimate moments within nature. Whether depicting wildlife in motion or quiet interactions between animals, her goal is to create work that feels both personal and timeless.
After more than a decade living in Montana, Haste continues to develop original wildlife paintings inspired by the region’s beauty and spirit. Her original painting Fishing Buddies was purchased by the Montana Arts Council and is displayed at the Southwest Montana Veterans Home in Butte. Her work is also currently exhibited in Montana venues and private collections.
My work begins with a moment in the natural world — a quiet encounter, a held gaze,
or a fleeting gesture from an animal that lingers long after the moment has passed.
These experiences stay with me, and they become the stories I bring into my
paintings and sculptures.
I work in a realistic style because I want viewers to recognize the truth of these
animals, but realism is only the starting point. What matters most to me is capturing
their presence — the individuality, the character, and the emotional connection that
often reveals itself in a single glance. My animals are expressive, but never
exaggerated; they reflect the honesty of the wild and the feeling of being there.
Color plays a significant role in my work. I use rich, vibrant tones, especially in oil, to
reflect not only what I see, but also what I feel in the moment of the encounter. These
colors allow me to communicate the warmth, intensity, and life that nature offers so
freely.
My goal is to create work that resonates with people on a personal level. Many
viewers share memories, stories, or emotional responses when they connect with a
piece, and those conversations are some of the most meaningful parts of my practice.
Through my art, I hope to honor the natural world and the connections we find within it
— both the ones we experience outdoors and the ones we rediscover in ourselves.
