Whatcom Museum Opened Forested Art Exhibition

The new exhibition showcases the Pacific Northwest through the works of Elizabeth Colborne.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Fine Art

Bold vector editorial illustration featuring a clean graphic silhouette of a fir tree, representing Pacific Northwest forest art. — The Whatcom Museum has opened a new exhibition in Bellingham featuring over 60 works by early 20th-century Pacific Northwest artist Elizabeth Colborne. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Whatcom Museum has opened a new exhibition titled Forested, featuring over 60 works by artist Elizabeth Colborne. The display highlights the region that inspired the longtime Bellingham resident.

Why it matters

This exhibition serves to reintroduce local art history by exploring the deep connection between regional landscapes and the creative process. It provides residents with a curated view of the Pacific Northwest as interpreted by influential artists from the early 20th century.

The Whatcom Museum holds a collection of more than 250 works by Elizabeth Colborne, with the current Forested exhibition showcasing more than 60 of these pieces.

The players

Whatcom Museum

This institution is a cultural center in Bellingham that preserves and displays art and history related to the surrounding region.

Elizabeth Colborne

She was an artist known for her work depicting the Pacific Northwest who moved to Bellingham in 1890.

Helen Loggie

She was an artist and contemporary of Colborne who gained recognition through her first solo exhibition in 1938.

The details

The museum curated this collection by focusing on artists who draw inspiration from the Pacific Northwest forests. To accompany the exhibition, the museum has reissued a limited run of the Evergreen Muse catalogue, which originally debuted during a 2011 exhibition.

Elizabeth Colborne moved to Bellingham in 1890.
Helen Loggie moved to Massachusetts in 1914.
Helen Loggie held her first solo exhibition in 1938.
The Evergreen Muse exhibition occurred in 2011.
The Forested exhibition opened on October 2, 2026.

Industry Dynamics

This exhibition follows the thematic focus on Pacific Northwest landscapes established by the 2011 Evergreen Muse exhibition. By reissuing the previous catalogue, the museum leverages established historical research to contextualize modern displays.

Visitors can view the new exhibition at the museum and purchase the limited-run catalogue at the Whatcom Museum Store. The exhibition provides a specific look at local artistic heritage for those interested in regional history and landscape art.

The takeaway

The Forested exhibition highlights how local landscapes remain a central source of inspiration for Pacific Northwest artists. Residents can deepen their understanding of this history by reviewing the reissued catalogue alongside the new collection.