Mansfield Center

Hadley Ferguson is a Missoula native and a University of Montana alumna. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1999. Soon after graduating she started her art career in Portland, Oregon, painting for the McMenamin Company. When she moved back to Missoula, she continued her art career and is most known for her many historic murals throughout the state of Montana. Some well-known projects include the seven-panel mural series in downtown Missoula, The Heart of Missoula Murals; a two-panel series for the Montana State Capitol, Women Build Montana; a four-panel series for Missoula Catholic Schools, Heritage Murals; and a three-part series design for the University of Montana College of Forestry.

This mural being dedicated is the first of a three-part series about the life and legacy of Mike Mansfield. Each panel is dedicated to a different period of Mansfield’s life. This inaugural mural explores the early experiences that shaped Mike Mansfield’s character, including hardship and service, his deep connection to Montana, and his essential partnership with Maureen Hayes.  The University of Montana is prominently featured as a life-changing catalyst. The second panel will highlight his role as our longest-serving Senate Majority Leader, while the third will illustrate his work as the longest-serving U.S. ambassador to Japan and his international service.

There are several themes that are consistent in each panel. Those constants include Mansfield’s love and loyalty to his wife, Maureen; the centrality of global peace and security in his leadership; his love and dedication to the State of Montana and the University of Montana, and his care for humanity as an underpinning in all he pursued.

This work is a collaborative process between the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center; Regents Professor, historian, and Mansfield Center co-founder Dr. Paul Lauren; Hadley Ferguson; and two artists helping Hadley complete the work, Ann Karp and Lillian Nelson. It is an honor to work with everyone to complete this important historical series.

The Mansfield Center commissioned this series to ensure the permanence and public accessibility of Mike Mansfield’s legacy—not just as a historical figure, but as a model of ethical leadership rooted in humility, service, and humanity. This project helps translate Mansfield’s values into a visual language that resonates with students, residents, and visitors alike.

Hadley Ferguson, a Missoula native and University of Montana alumna, has built a distinguished career as one of Montana’s most recognized muralists. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1999 and began her professional journey in Portland, Oregon, painting for the McMenamin Company. Upon returning to Missoula, she continued her work across the state, creating large-scale murals that celebrate Montana’s history and identity. Some well-known projects include the seven-panel mural series in downtown Missoula, The Heart of Missoula Murals; a two-panel series for the Montana State Capitol, Women Build Montana; a four-panel series for Missoula Catholic Schools, Heritage Murals; and a three-part series design for the University of Montana College of Forestry.

This newly dedicated mural is the second in a three-part series depicting the life and legacy of Mike Mansfield. Each panel highlights a distinct chapter of his life. This second installment illustrates Mansfield’s years in the United States Senate, where he played a key role in landmark legislation such as the Clean Air Act, the Wilderness Act, the Voting Rights Act, and Medicare. He also oversaw two historically significant congressional investigations on the Watergate hearings and the intelligence services, particularly the Central Intelligence Agency.

Woven throughout the series are the enduring themes that defined Mansfield’s life: his deep devotion to his wife Maureen, his love for Montana, and his unwavering respect for the U.S. Constitution. The final mural will explore his tenure as the longest-serving U.S. ambassador to Japan and his broader international service.

This project is the result of a collaboration between the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center; Regents Professor, historian, and Mansfield Center co-founder Dr. Paul Lauren; Hadley Ferguson; and contributing artists Ann Karp and Lillian Nelson.

The Mansfield Center commissioned this series to ensure the permanence and public accessibility of Mike Mansfield’s legacy. More than a historical tribute, it reflects his values of humility, service, and ethical leadership.  This project helps translate Mansfield’s values into a visual language that resonates with students, residents, and visitors alike.