D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A
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missoul a arTisT
hadley ferguson
By erika fredrickson
Hadley Ferguson started out a sculptor with little
intert in painting.
But since she graduated from the University of
Montana in 1999, the Missoula native has established herself as a premier mu-
ral painter showcasing a distinct color palette with work prominently placed on
downtown buildings and inside popular businesses. Her "The Heart of Missoula
Murals" on the corner of Higgins and Broadway is perhaps her most recognized,
but other ones fill diners and bars, law offices, and school gymnasiums. As a
young artist at 37, Ferguson is at the height of her career, but she also had to
deal with a major challenge. Her 2009 diagnosis of Parkinson's led to another
diagnosis recently of a Parkinson's-like disease called Multiple Systems Atrophy,
which is degenerative and affects her neurological system. Despite the difficul-
ties—and sometimes because of it—Ferguson continues to shine as an artist,
She has taken on some high profile projects including a mural for Missoula
Catholic Schools, the University of Montana School of Forestry and Conservation
and—the biggest one—a mural that will permanently live in the hallowed halls
of the State Capitol in Helena. To see more of Ferguson's work, go to
www.hadleyferguson.com.
Hadley renders the mural's underpainting before adding color.
CATHRINE L. WALTERS
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