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The Denver Art Museum is the largest art museum between Kansas City and the West Coast. Designed by world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind, the new Hamilton Building is a work of art in itself. The Denver Art Museum contains a comprehensive collection numbering more than 55,000 works from around the world with eight curatorial departments: architecture, design & graphics, Asian art, modern and contemporary, native arts (American Indian, Oceanic, and African), New World (pre-Columbian and Spanish Colonial), painting & sculpture (European and American), Western art, and textile art. Some of the featured artists whose works are on display include Monet, Picasso, Matisse, Modigliani, O’Keeffe, Warhol, Dine, Grooms, Samaras, Corot, Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec, Russell, Rodin, di Suvero, and Remington. You could easily spend your entire time in Denver taking in the wonderful creations of the artists.
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Take in the Kirkland Museum’s collection of 20th-century decorative arts. On display are more than 3,300 works of Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau, Glasgow Style, Wiener Werkstatte, De Stijl, Bauhaus, Art Deco, Modern and Pop Art. Additionally, a major survey of Colorado art history is documented with over 170 artists represented by more than 700 works with a strong focus on the first thee quarters of the 20th Century. Also, be sure to view the retrospective of Colorado’s distinguished painter Vance Kirkland (1904-1981).
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Finish the day off with some culinary art. This eclectic and energetic restaurant offers a vibrant, fun atmosphere and light cuisine. A menu offering Latin-Asian fusion fare includes such favorites as Won Ton Tacos, Smoked Salmon Tempura Roll, Chipotle Miso Salmon, Artichoke Marinated Chicken. It’s a perfect place to dine after spending a day looking at art.
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You could spend an entire day walking around the Art District on Santa Fe as it features the largest concentration of art galleries in Colorado with more than 40 galleries, shops and restaurants. It is also home to First Friday Art Walks, where on the first Friday of every month, galleries open their doors to the public, attracting lively crowds. Art lovers can peruse everything from traditional to contemporary art including paintings, sculpture, photography, mixed media, graphic art and textiles. A number of restaurants in the area offer up authentic Mexican cuisine.
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Denver’s cutting-edge arts world was given a new home recently in the form of the David Adjaye-designed Museum of Contemporary Art in Lower Downtown. This lovely, modern building houses a constantly refreshed set of exhibits – no visit to MCA Denver is the same. All in all, the museum creates an innovative forum for contemporary art that inspires and challenges all audiences, creating understanding and dialog about art of our time. As Denver’s first institution devoted entirely to contemporary art, MCA DENVER is housed in a new environmentally sustainable facility.
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Clyfford Still, considered one of the most important painters of the 20th century, was among the first generation of Abstract Expressionist artists. The museum, which opened at the end of 2011, was founded to promote the late artist's work and legacy. Still's estate - 2,400 artworks - has been sealed off from the public since 1980.
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There's nowhere else you're going to see a pair of inflatable, 16-foot-tall rubber bunnies, right? One of the Mile High City's most fascinating art locales, The Dikeou Collection is a private collection of contemporary art, with photography, drawings, sculptures, and installations by more than 25 artists from around the world. Free and open to the public, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by appointment.
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Just north of downtown, you’ll find the newly christened River North Art District, which goes by the catchy nickname RiNo – the district has even adopted a Rhino design for its official insignia. RiNo is rapidly becoming the hotspot for artsy types in Denver, with a remarkable array of creative businesses, including architects, art galleries, designers, furniture makers, illustrators, painters, media artists, photographers, sculptors, and a wealth of studio spaces.
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Finish off your artsy weekend with a little fine dining in Larimer Square, where some of the city's trendiest eateries can be found. From Pacific Rim fusion to fancy French restaurants, you'll find what you're looking for here.