Discover why The Mile High City is the place to be when it comes to incredible arts and culture.
NOTE: Due to health concerns regarding the coronavirus (Covid-19), some events may be canceled. Please check directly with the venues for the latest status.
Blockbuster Exhibitions
THE ART OF THE BRICK
Thru Jan. 31, 2021
Contemporary artist Nathan Sawaya's original artworks and reimagined versions of famous masterpieces made from LEGO® bricks will wow you when it comes to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science this summer. The exhibit also showcases a collection of LEGO-infused, hyper-realistic photography from Sawaya's innovative collaboration with award-winning photographer Dean West. Guests of all ages will be able to put their own ingenuity to work in an area filled with LEGO bricks.
THE 19TH CENTURY IN EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN ART
WHEN: Opens Feb. 7, 2021
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
The 1800s were a pivotal time in Europe and America, marked by incredible change and upheaval. View about 85 artworks from the museum's collection by Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, Berthe Morisot, Édouard Manet, Willard Leroy Metcalf, Childe Hassam, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and others that tell a story about one of the most important times in art history.
STONEHENGE: ANCIENT MYSTERIES AND MODERN DISCOVERIES
WHEN: Mar. 12–Sept. 6, 2021
WHERE: Denver Museum of Nature & Science
After centuries of speculation, experts are finally starting to understand the mysteries of Stonehenge, thanks to archaeological excavations and advances in scientific techniques. Explore where, when, why, and perhaps most intriguing, how Stonehenge was built.
NOW SHOWING
LUMONICS MIND SPA: LIGHT INTERSECTION
Thru Jan. 30, 2021
The Lumonics Mind Spa is a concept developed by Dorothy Tanner (1923-2020) who wanted her light sculptures and those of her late husband Mel Tanner to be experienced as a total art installation that fosters a state of comfort, relaxation, and creativity. The art work will be seen from several windows of the Understudy Gallery at the intersection of Stout and 14th Street in the Denver Theatre District, with each angle of gazing providing another perspective. Understudy Gallery is adjacent to the Convention Center RTD stop and viewable to all from the train. It is truly a Light Intersection.
CITIZENSHIP: A PRACTICE OF SOCIETY
Thru Feb. 14, 2021
This exhibition at MCA DENVER — Museum of Contemporary Art Denver posits art making as a critical civic act and exemplifies how artists act as citizens. Many of the works address specific political crises, such as the opioid epidemic and Flint, Michigan's battle for clean water. Others highlight specific legal issues that shape American society.
WOMEN BEHAVING BADLY
Thru Feb. 28, 2021
In works combining watercolor with historical photography, news clippings and text, Denver-based artist Adri Norris highlights women who've made history. See it at History Colorado Center.
RAÍCES Y RAMAS | ROOTS AND BRANCHES
Thru Feb. 28, 2021
Raíces y ramas explores the Chicano experience in U.S. culture, highlighting the role of place and landscape in connecting community on view at the Denver Botanic Gardens.
Y/OUR DENVER 2020 ARCHITECTURE PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION
Thru Mar. 1, 2021
Local photographers were asked to find and photograph their favorite areas of Denver. The call was open to all forms of architectural imagery and from photographers of all skill levels.
THE LIGHT SHOW
Thru Mar. 7, 2021
The Light Show at Denver Art Museum features more than 200 objects drawn from the museum's nine curatorial departments that explore both physical and symbolic representations of light in art.
ANA MENDIETA: SUSPENDED FIRE
Thru Mar. 7, 2021
This immersive installation at Denver Art Museum features two films created by Cuban-American artist Ana Mendieta. The two films portray the primordial element of fire. Active as an artist throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Mendieta used her body as a way to explore ideas of identity and displacement and its connection to the earth.
NEW YEAR/NEW VIEW
Thru Mar. 14, 2021
Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art's collection of Colorado & regional artworks continues to grow. To celebrate moving into a new year, Kirkland Museum will feature newly-acquired and never-before-seen works from the Colorado & Regional Art collection.
PRIMA LINGUA: FIRST WORDS OF THE EARTH
Thru Mar. 14, 2021
Aspen-based artist Jody Guralnick explores the intersection of science and art, bringing to light the microscopic and often unnoticed structures of lichens, mushrooms, molds and more. For her, these tiny organisms are comparable to the first words of the earth — the building blocks of nature's language. See it at Denver Botanic Gardens.
ZANELE MUHOLI - SOMNYAMA NGONYAMA: HAIL THE DARK LIONESS
Thru Mar. 20, 2021
CVA is proud to present Zanele Muholi - Somnyama Ngonyama: Hail the Dark Lioness, organized by Autograph, London and curated by Renée Mussai. In more than 80 self-portraits, celebrated visual activist Zanele Muholi (South Africa, b. 1972) uses their body as a canvas to confront the deeply personal politics of race and representation in the visual archive.
THE LATE WORKS: CLYFFORD STILL IN MARYLAND
Thru Mar. 21, 2021
This exhibition explores Clyfford Still's later paintings and drawings, made after his move to rural Maryland in 1961. This marks a particularly fertile period for Still, during which he made more than 375 works on canvas and more than 1,100 works on paper (nearly all in pastel) before his death in 1980 at the age of 75. The Late Works at the Clyfford Still Museum will include approximately 70 of these unique works.
SENGA NENGUDI: TOPOLOGIES
Thru Apr. 11, 2021
This collection, on view at the Denver Art Museum, is composed of more than 70 abstract and conceptual artworks by the internationally recognized artist, a prominent figure of the 1970s Black American avant-garde and Black Arts Movement.
APRON CHRONICLES
Thru May 9, 2021
Apron Chronicles features photography, personal narratives and one-of-a-kind aprons. While the storytellers' recollections were each prompted by an apron, they're not about fabric. Sharing a depth of emotion and social complexity both intimately personal and universally relatable, the exhibit reminds us that we're all in this together and even lets visitors add their own stories to the experience. See it at History Colorado Center.
DREAMS IN BLOOM: PHOTOS BY FARES MICUE
Thru May 16, 2021
Photographer Fares Micue creates dreamlike self-portraits that integrate natural and surprising objects in vibrant hues at Denver Botanic Gardens. Set against a dark, mysterious ground, her images document the hope and positivity of the human spirit. Micue's first solo exhibition, Dreams in Bloom celebrates the individual beauty of the human form and the universal creative optimism within.
SHANTELL MARTIN: WORDS AND LINES
Thru May 31, 2021
London-born, New York-based contemporary artist Shantell Martin has collaborated with iconic brands and artists from Puma and Nike to Max Mara and Kendrick Lamar. This interactive multimedia installation at Denver Art Museum features Martin’s signature black and white drawings that explore intersectionality, identity and play.
GREGG DEAL (PYRAMID LAKE PAIUTE): MERCILESS INDIAN SAVAGES
Thru July 31, 2021
What does America mean to a person whose ancestors were insulted in its founding document? Gregg Deal of the Pyramid Lake Paiute leads an Indigenous exploration of what democracy means in Indian Country through his unique, dynamic works at History Colorado Center.
FORTY YEARS ON THE ’FAX
Thru Dec. 31, 2021
Take a nostalgic ride down Colfax, with stops at the quirky and memorable places that gave the street its worldwide reputation. See it at History Colorado Center.
NIGHT LIGHTS DENVER
Night Lights Denver features rotating content designed by local artists and the community and projected on the Arapahoe Street side of the Daniels & Fisher Tower every Thursday through Saturday evening.
COMING SOON
PARIS TO HOLLYWOOD: The Fashion and Influence of Véronique and Gregory Peck
Mar. 14–Jun. 20, 2021
A selection of haute couture, fashion sketches, photographs, film clips, family snapshots, and documents will be exhibited publicly for the first time, providing a unique look into the style of one of Hollywood’s most beloved couples. See it at Denver Art Museum.
Explore More
You can't have bragging rights from a Denver trip until you see these sights. Warning: it may take more than one visit!
Explore the thriving Denver arts and culture scene, from world-class museums to unique art districts. Check out current and upcoming gallery showings.
Explore the renovated Union Station, a transportation hub, historic landmark and vibrant space for staying, eating, gathering and shopping.
Find the best music and concert venues that are home to Denver. From top music venues to local neighborhood spots, you are sure to find your favorite spot.
Whether you have a few hours, a few days or a week in The Mile High City, here are some suggested itineraries and trips for visitors.
Beyond the big-ticket attractions, Denver is home to a wide array of smaller, but no-less-fascinating attractions that make for unforgettable experiences.
Kids are often tough to please – but they’ll be grinning from ear to ear whenever they’re in The Mile High City!
Denver serves as an excellent gateway to the wonders of the nearby Rocky Mountains.
No need to venture far with great shopping in and near downtown Denver. Cherry Creek, 16th St. Mall, Larimer Square and Antique Row are just a few options.
Enjoy two different passes to take advantage of the great attractions throughout The Mile High City.
Colorado is a big, beautiful place and the Rockies offer multiple options for all kinds of taste.
Come see Claude Monet: Truth in Nature at the Denver art Museum, the most comprehensive retrospective in two decades.