Black and white photo of a moonlit landscape.
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The Light Show

June 2, 2019 – March 7, 2021

The Light Show at the Denver Art Museum explores physical and symbolic representations of light in art through a thought-provoking narrative. The exhibition features about 250 objects drawn from the DAM’s nine curatorial departments. The Light Show focuses on the quest by humanity and artists to understand physical light in the natural world as well as metaphorical, spiritual, and divine representations of light.

The exhibition helps visitors reflect on a variety of light-related themes through a broad range of materials and artworks, including ancient sculptures, paintings, photography, textiles, and contemporary installations.

From December 6, 2020, through the run of the show, the Ana Mendieta: Suspended Fire installation will be included as part of the exhibition.

The cross-departmental exhibition is co-curated by Rebecca Hart, Vicki and Kent Logan Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, and Jorge Rivas Pérez, Frederick and Jan Mayer Curator of Latin American Art.

Share your visit online using #LightatDAM
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Hamilton Building, Levels 3 and 4
Included in general admission
colorful artwork made of bottle tops shown hanging from ceiling in the gallery

El Anatsui (Ewe), Rain Has No Father?, 2008. Found bottle tops and copper wire; 153 x 239 in. Denver Art Museum: Funds from Native Arts acquisition fund, U.S. Bank, Richard and Theresa Davis, Douglas Society, Denver Art Museum Volunteer Endowment, Alex Cranberg and Susan Morris, Geta and Janice Asfaw, Saron and Daniel Yohannes, Lee McIntire, Milroy and Sheryl Alexander, Dorothy and Richard Campbell, Wayne Carey and Olivia Thompson, Morris Clark, Rebecca H. Cordes, Kenneth and Rebecca Gart, Tim and Bobbi Hamill, Kalleen and Robert Malone, Meyer and Geri Saltzman, Ann and Gerry Saul, Mary Ellen and Thomas Williams, Nancy and James Williams, Forrest Cason, First Western Trust Bank, Howard and Sandy Gelt, Gene Osborne, Boettcher Foundation, John and Eve Glesne, The Schlegel White Foundation, Jeffrey and Nancy Balter, and Tamara Banks, 2008.891. © El Anatsui

Ettore Sottsass, Ashoka Lamp, 1981. Painted metal; 34 × 30 × 3 1/4 in. Manufactured by Memphis Srl, Milan, Italy. Denver Art Museum: Funds from Frederick and Jan Mayer.

pintura

Childe Hassam, A Walk in the Park or Springtime in the Park (Una caminata en el parque o Primavera en el parque), circa 1900. Óleo sobre lienzo sobre panel, 14-3/4 x 21-1/2 pulgadas. Colección de Frederic C. Hamilton, legado al Denver Art Museum.

Ansel Adams, Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico, 1944. Gelatin silver print; 15-1/2 x 19 in. Denver Art Museum: General Services Foundation Purchase Fund. © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust.

Fred Wilson, The Way the Moon’s in Love with the Dark, 2017. Murano glass, clear brown glass, steel, light bulbs. Purchased with funds from Vicki and Kent Logan; Suzanne Farver and Clint Van Zee; Sharon and Lanny Martin; Craig Ponzio; Ellen and Morris Susman; Devon Dikeou and Fernando Troya; Baryn, Daniel and Jonathan Futa; Andrea and William Hankinson; Amy Harmon; Arlene and Barry Hirschfeld; Lu and Chris Law; Amanda J. Precourt; Judy and Ken Robins; Annalee and Wagner Schorr; Judith Zee Steinberg and Paul Hoenmans; Tina Walls; and Margaret and Glen Wood, 2017.207. © Fred Wilson.

Shunsho Hattori, Display Box (Kazaribako) “Morning Glow,” 1999. Lacquer, gold and abalone shell inlay on wood; 5-3/4 x 5-3/4 x 3-3/4 in. Denver Art Museum: Asian Art Association Acquisition Fund in honor of Ronald Otsuka’s thirty years at the Denver Art Museum.

José Inez Herrera, Death Cart, New Mexico, 1890-1910. Wood, leather, hair, feather, metal, silk; 48 x 21 1/5 in. Denver Art Museum: General acquisition funds.

Marie Watt (Seneca), Butterfly, 2015. Reclaimed wool blankets, satin binding, thread, cotton twill tape and tin jingle

Marie Watt (Seneca), Butterfly, 2015. Reclaimed wool blankets, satin binding, thread, cotton twill tape and tin jingles; 94 x 126 in. Denver Art Museum: Funds from Loren G. Lipson, M.D., Vicki & Kent Logan, with additional funds from Brian Tschumper, Nancy Benson, Jan & Mike Tansey, and JoAnn & Bob Balzer, 2016.1A-B. © Marie Watt.

Installation view of The Light Show exhibition showing artworks that give off shadows and several paintings

Installation view of The Light Show.

round gold mirror

Regency Glided Girandole Mirror, about 1820, England. Glass, wood, gilt, gesso, brass, and iron. H: 37.5in; W: 33in; D: 7.5in
Gift of Irene Littledale Downs.

Painting of a street acrobat holding a child in The Light Show
Gustave Doré, La Famille du Saltimbanque: L'Enfant Blessé (The Family of Street Acrobats: the injured child), 1873. Oil on canvas; 76-3/4 x 51-1/2 in. Denver Art Museum, Painting and Sculpture Deaccession Funds, 2012.4
silver sculptures in The Light Show

Marc Quinn, Centripetal Morphology. Rise,1996. Glass and silver
H: 92 1/2in; W: 58 1/4in; D: 15in.

mesh light fixture with white, brown, green and red fluorescent lights hanging from ceiling in museum gallery

Johanna Grawunder, Big Chandelier, 2002. Stainless steel, steel mesh, colored acrylic, and colored fluorescent tube lights. Denver Art Museum: Gift of the designer and DZINE San Francisco, 2016.272. © Johanna Grawunder

Featured Articles

Look closer into the exhibition by reading about the stories behind some of the artworks on display, written by our curators, conservators, and museum staff.

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Family looking drawing while looking at art at the Denver Art Museum

Activities for Kids and Families

Visiting with the whole family? Make sure to check out our Creativity Resource page. There you'll find DIY activities, gallery games, lesson plans, book recommendations, and more to enhance your experience both at the museum and at home.

The Light Show is organized by the Denver Art Museum. Support is provided by the generous donors to the Annual Fund Leadership Campaign, and the residents who support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). Promotional support is provided by 5280 Magazine and CBS4.