Tiger Palpatja (Pitjantjatjara c. 1920–2012), Wati Wanampi Tjukurpa, 2010. Synthetic polymer paint on canvas. National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne: Purchased in memory of Graeme Marshall with funds donated by Harriet and Richard England and Anne and Ian McLean, 2011 (2011.334). © Tiger Palpatja/Copyright Agency, 2024.
Knife Fork Spoon: Everyday Tools, Extraordinary Design brings together works by architects and designers from around the world including Eliel Saarinen, Jean Puiforcat, Russel Wright, Gio Ponti, Jens Quistgaard, Isamu Noguchi, Lella and Massimo Vignelli, Philippe Starck, Zaha Hadid, Rafael de Cardenas, Johnston Marklee, SO–IL, and others. This exhibition is on level 2 of the Martin Building.
Making a Mark: The Noelle and George Beatty Collection celebrates the gift of 26 works on paper, including watercolors, lithographs, woodcuts, and etchings, spanning the 1800s and 1900s. From beach views to pastoral fantasies, and from the rapid, spontaneous brushstrokes of Eugène Louis Boudin to the structured, abstract forms of Alexander Calder, this collection mirrors the personal and eclectic taste of its creators. This exhibition is on level 3 of the Hamilton Building in the modern and contemporary art galleries.
2. Have IRL experiences
Stop scrolling and start strolling...through the Denver Art Museum. The DAM is a great place to unplug, be in a "third space," and have real experiences with friends, family, or even strangers.
Slow down and evoke the five senses in the Denver Art Museum’s Sensory Garden. The Sensory Garden is open daily during regular museum hours. On Tuesdays and Fridays, volunteers called Garden Guides are present between 10:30 am and 2 pm to answer questions and interact with visitors.
Have a drink and a nosh during happy hour at The Ponti restaurant 4–7 pm on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays this summer. The Ponti is located on level 1 of the Sie Welcome Center.
Sip your favorite cocktails (or mocktails) outdoors and get creative with a quick and easy craft at our new Craft & Cocktails events on July 7 and August 4 from 5–7 pm. Crafts are included with your general admission ticket, cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks are available to purchase. Weather permitting, this event will take place outdoors in Kemper Courtyard.
Bring your besties to Untitled: Artist Takeover 6–10 pm on July 31. Featured Artists Elle Hong and Lilian Lara will collaborate with other Denver-area creatives to present an evening of one-of-a-kind experiences including live performances, pop-up installations, artmaking, and other fun surprises. Drinks available to purchase.
3. Add years to your life (and life to your years)
Did you know that engaging with art can help you live longer? Study after study shows that looking at art and being more creative is good for you. As NPR recently reported, "Ignite your creative expression and participate more in the arts. A new study finds this may help boost longevity by slowing down your rate of aging."
Reconnect with your own creativity in a Creative Class. The summer/fall semester of drawing, painting, textile, and mixed-media classes starts August 15. No experience necessary!
Check out Drop-In programs, like drawing classes, Mindful Looking, gallery tours, and more.
Make something in the Design Studio, Thread Studio, or Cosmic Studio. On Studio Saturdays 1-3 pm you can watch live demonstrations by Colorado-based creatives and learn about their artistic processes.
4. Celebrate Colorado arts, culture, and history
2026 is Colorado's 150th anniversary and the DAM is joining in with a slate of related events on July 31 and August 1. Join us for a special SCFD Free Day and Colorado Day Art Market, Native Arts Artists-in-Residence talks, and Spotlight Talk docent tours.
In addition, you can explore exhibitions showcasing Colorado art and artists, including:
Conversation Pieces: Stories from the Fashion Archives (Martin Building, level 6) (Read more about the local history in the exhibition and Miss May Wilfley and her Afternoon dress from the 1900s.
John E. Thompson and Colorado Modernism (Opens July 19, Martin Building, level 7)
'Round the Clock: 24 Hours of Colorado in Prints (The Kirkland)
5. Get ready to unleash your inner diva
Tickets to DIVA go on sale in August! The DAM is the exclusive US venue for this highly anticipated global exhibition organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The show, which opens October 4, celebrates the radical power, creativity, and cultural impact of nearly 100 iconic performers including Cher, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, RuPaul, Prince, and Tina Turner with over 50 show-stopping looks and about 200 accessories, posters, playbills, drawings, photos, videos, and other objects.
