Denver Art Museum Blogs

The Playful Table Arrangements of Alexander Girard

Happy birthday to architect and designer Alexander Girard, who was born on May 24, 1907! Girard, Director of Herman Miller’s Textile Division from 1952 to 1973 and an avid promoter of folk art, saw things differently than most. It’s impossible to talk about his designs for textiles, furniture, graphics, exhibitions, and residential and commercial interiors without using words like vibrant or visionary. As the COVID-19 pandemic reshapes our lives, I have been thinking a lot about Girard’s conviction that beauty can be found amid everyday life.

Studying Art through the Lens of a Pandemic

A look back at the impacts other pandemics and epidemics have had on world populations and their arts.

Local Artists Embrace New Canvas: Face Masks

Several local artists have embraced using masks as an opportunity for creativity and expression.

A Look Back at the First-Ever Untitled: Creative Fusions at Home

The Untitled: Creative Fusions program premiered on May 15, 16, and 17 in a digital format with three bite-size episodes for an "at home" experience. Libby Barbee and Becky Wareing Steele, this edition's featured artists, took viewers on a journey through the theme of "Unearthing Place," inspired by Natural Forces: Winslow Homer and Frederic Remington. With a focus on multicultural perspectives of the American West, the featured artists joined forces with a wide range of creative collaborators to bring inspiration, reflection, and celebration to the forefront.

Celebrate International Museum Day in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

While museums have been closed, we—like many of you—have spent countless hours visiting the next best thing: the museum in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Biking & History Inspire Denver Artist Romelle

Our Denver creative community is a vibrant source of inspiration and creativity—especially now. This week, we asked local artist Romelle to share what is keeping her inspired and sparking her creativity during this time. She says: “My name is Romelle and I am an abstract painter based in RiNo, Denver. My studio essentials include anything that keeps me sane and I'm never short of vibrant colors to help bring my mood up. Lately, my routine has involved biking to the studio which acts as a sort of moving-meditation as I start the day.

Drop-in Drawing Program Goes Virtual

The Denver Art Museum's monthly Drop-in Drawing sessions are going virtual until it's safe for the museum to host these type of classes again. Anna Kaye, artist and instructor, will continue to lead the program.

Stereotypes in Remington's Fight for the Waterhole

Learn more about Homer Remington and his painting Fight for the Waterhole.

Creative Collaborators Give Their Take on Unearthing Place Theme

With Untitled: Creative Fusions at Home approaching on May 15, 16, and 17, we asked a few of the event's participating artists to tell us how they've interpreted the theme of "Unearthing Place" and what activities viewers can expect to see when they hit the virtual stage. For this Untitled—the first entirely online—our two featured artists Becky Wareing Steele and Libby Barbee collaborated with local artists to develop a three-episode variety show exploring the diverse narratives of the American West through shared experience and heritage.

Sharing our sincere appreciation for teachers across Colorado  and beyond

The closure of schools this spring has created an  unprecedented  challenge for teachers  to overcome.  Teachers were faced with daunting questions:  How do we teach from afar? How do we connect with our students when we cannot connect? How do we ensure students know we care?  We have seen teachers not only  rise to the challenge, but truly innovate during this time of need.

How We've Been Staying Inspired

Like many people, the staff at the Denver Art Museum has been dealing with how to stay inspired and creative while quarantined. Here are some of the ways 20 of our team members have kept themselves occupied and energized at home these past few weeks.

Keith Haring's Altarpiece

Altarpiece, gifted to the Denver Art Museum by Yoko Ono, is considered Keith Haring’s final work, executed weeks before he died of AIDS on February 16, 1990. It serves as a testament to the power of creativity and the artist’s willingness to share his vision even as he was mortally ill. Featuring his signature hieroglyphic figures, this bronze triptych recalls Christian altarpieces as well as devotional shrines dedicated to the deities of world religions. Determined to finish it before he died, Haring rapidly cut the design into clay, which was later cast in bronze.