Denver Art Museum Blogs

Mexican Modernism for Kids & Families

Families can explore the exhibition with a pop-up guide and through our online Museum Web Quest.

Conserving a Ming Dynasty Map Made in Japan (Video & Photos)

This article tells the story of how the Denver Art Museum conserved this map. To learn more about the map itself read this article. No longer on view.

History, Artistry & Science

Traditional conservation embodies what I like to refer to as the “holy trinity” of disciplines: history, artistic competency, and science. The marriage of these three areas make conservation stand apart from restoration—or simply making something look good or better.

Newly Conserved Magi on View at the Denver Art Museum

Note: This blog was originally published in 2015. Since these objects are on view in Stampede: Animals in Art, we are republishing it.

I Can Play a Video Game at the Denver Art Museum?

Yes, you can! The video game Never Alone is part of the Denver Art Museum exhibition Stampede: Animals in Art.

What is Never Alone?

In Never Alone (also known as Kisima Inŋitchuŋa in the Alaska Native Iñupiaq language), players take on the roles of a young Iñupiaq girl and an arctic fox in an atmospheric puzzle platformer that combines traditional stories, settings, and characters that have been handed down over generations by Alaska Native people whose roots and heritage date back millennia.

Details of the Conservation of The Virgin of Valvanera

These videos tell the story of how curators, conservators, and educators worked to conserve The Virgin of Valvanera (on view in Revealing a Mexican Masterpiece: The Virgin of Valvanera), a painting created in the 1700s.

The Virgin of Valvanera: Varnish

Artists have used varnishes to coat their paintings since the 1400s—some claim as early as the eleventh century. Varnishes serve to saturate the paint colors, provide some degree of protection for the paint surface, and to impart an even surface sheen. Some artists have used varnishes as an aesthetic medium, mixing resins into wet paint to create rich translucency or selectively applying them to juxtapose areas of matte and gloss.

Conservation & Varnish

How to Take a Great Pet Photo

See Your Pet on the Gallery Wall

For the exhibition Stampede: Animals in Art the Denver Art Museum invites visitors to share photos of your pets on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #DAMpets. These photos will appear in the exhibition’s “Beloved” section in a livestream on a framed iPad hung side-by-side with artworks from DAM’s collections. You will find this section on level 3 of the DAM’s Hamilton Building.

The Virgin of Valvanera: Examination In-Depth

For a painting that is over 300 years old, The Virgin of Valvanera is in remarkably good condition. One would fully expect that a painting of this age has undergone several attempts at restoration (by both skilled and amateur hands). Contrary to what is usually the case, this painting has not incurred major structural damage in the form of tears or losses, has never been lined (i.e. attached to a secondary canvas or solid support material), and has not been severely over-cleaned or extensively repainted.

A Research Trip to Mexico City (Video)

As part of the research for the conservation treatment of the painting The Virgin of Valvanera, attributed to Cristóbal de Villalpando, a team from the Denver Art Museum traveled to Mexico City in March, 2017. There, the team was fortunate to visit several sites and meet with specialists on Mexican painting of the baroque period.

Conserving The Virgin of Valvanera–Overview of the Process

Art conservation is a field that encompasses a breadth of expertise. As we roll up our sleeves in anticipation of improvements and potential discoveries, a plan that will provide optimum preservation is essential.

Conserving a Painting from the 1700s: The Virgin of Valvanera

Entering its seventh year, the Bank of America Art Conservation Project has funded more than 100 projects in 29 countries, on six continents. In 2016, the Denver Art Museum was among 21 institutions to receive one of these prestigious grants. As a result of this generous support, the conservation and New World curatorial departments will be able to undertake the full scope of historical and technical research as well as the conservation treatment of a very important painting from the museum's Spanish Colonial collection.

Visit the Early Childhood Student Art Showcase

Creativity and imagination fill the gallery space in the lower level of the North Building at the Denver Art Museum. The DAM is currently showcasing artwork by early childhood students—children under the age of six. All of the pieces on view were created by the students of Mile High Early Learning and Clayton Early Learning. The artwork has been created in a variety of ways with a wide range of materials. These creative young artists have made a stunning array of colorful and eye-catching artwork with the help of dedicated teachers and staff.