Art Districts in Denver

Find the pulse of Denver’s vibrant creative community year-round in The Mile High City’s eight neighborhood art districts. Galleries, studios and cultural attractions stay open late for a mind-expanding night of art, food, drink and fun during First Fridays in most districts.

Art District on Santa Fe

The Art District on Santa Fe is the hub of the Denver art scene, featuring 30 participating galleries, artist studios and restaurants. With the largest concentration of art galleries in Colorado, Santa Fe offers art lovers everything from traditional art to contemporary and engaging art, including painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, graphic art and textiles.

Within this thriving creative community, enjoy First Friday Art Walks (5:30–9:30 p.m.) every first Friday of the month.

Good to Know: Every third Friday, the Art District offers Collector Preview Events, a more intimate version of First Friday with an opportunity for patrons to see the art and meet the artists and owners without the large First Friday crowds.

The Art District on Santa Fe has the largest concentration of art galleries in Colorado.

Golden Triangle Creative District

The Golden Triangle Creative District is a culturally stimulating neighborhood that is home to eight of Denver's museums, in addition to more than 15 galleries like Gallery 1261, Abend Gallery and Walker Fine Art, and art studios and specialty stores.

Good to Know: The Golden Triangle is home to the famed Denver Art Museum, but also several hidden gems, including the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art and the Molly Brown House Museum.

Art galleries and shops on South Pearl Street in Denver.

Check out the art galleries, plus many shops hosting local artists, not to mention live music, and food and drink on South Pearl Street.

River North Art District (RiNo)

Just north of downtown, you'll find the 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 a 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. Explore this innovative scene on the first Friday of every month between 6 and 9 p.m. RiNo is also known for its vibrant street art.

Good to Know: RiNo is situated along the South Platte River Trail, so it is fun and easy to bike to and around the district. Plus, Coors Field is nearby for a baseball and art extravaganza.

Tennyson Street Cultural District

In Denver's Berkeley neighborhood, west of downtown, discover the burgeoning creative scene of the Tennyson Street Cultural District. The neighborhood boasts a growing number of art galleries, where you can spend an afternoon browsing antique prints, photographs and paintings from local artists. You'll also find a few live music venues and some great Italian and Mexican food.

The First Friday evening of each month, the merchants along North Denver's Tennyson Street invite you to stroll, shop and gallery hop from 6 until 10 p.m. Between 38th and 44th Avenues, check out restaurants, boutiques, coffee houses, indie book stores and, of course, wonderful art galleries and studios, all tucked into one of Denver's funkiest neighborhoods.

Good to Know: The historic Oriental Theater is one of the coolest venues in Denver, hosting live music, film, comedy and live performances.

Westwood Creative District

In southwest Denver, Morrison Road cuts diagonally through the heart of the colorful Westwood Creative District. The neighborhood's Mexican-American roots shine through in the form of culturally inspired murals adorning walls, electrical boxes and even trash cans, as well as the food, with Kahlo's Mexican Restaurant (named for iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo) and other eateries on the main drag.

Local leaders are working to transform Morrison Road into the pedestrian-friendly Mercado Lineal (Spanish for "linear market"), with plazas, gardens and more public art. The brainchild of nonprofit Re:Vision, RISE Westwood is an evolving community hub that's home to the Westwood Food Cooperative and special events. Coming soon: an urban farm, grocery store and commercial kitchen.

Good to Know: The annual Westwood Chile Fest in September features booths with artists and food vendors, live music, and an abundance of green chile to celebrate its harvest.

Arts on Belmar

Twelve minutes from downtown Denver, Arts on Belmar is home to a diverse collection of studios and galleries. Artisans working in fiber, photography, oils, acrylics, digital, textiles, watercolor, mixed media and more can be found on this easternmost block of Belmar. Collectively open for First Friday Art Walks from 5 to 9:30 p.m. throughout the year, this is a fantastic place to not only experience local art, but also meet the artists creating their masterpieces. Free parking!

Good to Know: The Belmar Shopping + Dining District is a 22-square-block pedestrian district that re-creates the ambiance of an old town village center — but with a distinctively contemporary flair. Enjoy shopping, dining and entertainment at more than 80 local boutiques and national brands in a residential district that locals and visitors love.

Open studio at 40 West Arts in Lakewood, Colorado.

An open studio at the 40 West Arts community in Lakewood.

South Pearl Street

Stroll between the 1200 and 1800 blocks of South Pearl Street on First Fridays (April through October from 5 to 9 p.m.) and check out five galleries, plus many shops hosting local artists, not to mention live music, food and drink.

Good to Know: The Sand Dollar Gallery opened its doors in 1975, making it one of the longest-running galleries in Denver.

38th Avenue Cultural District

Come visit the distinct’s diverse galleries, studios, boutiques and gift shops up and down 38th Avenue from Sheridan Boulevard to Wadsworth Boulevard. Experience a unique holiday shopping experience and one-of-a-kind gifts.

Good to Know: Be sure to visit both the Showroom and Gallery at Lapis Gallery.

40 West Arts

Beneath the surface of Lakewood’s unassuming suburban landscape bubbles a lively artistic community, and 40 West Arts is the hub of that community. Easily accessible via West Colfax, the district has more than two dozen public art installations — many of them colorful murals — plus several galleries, multiple performance venues and the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design. The neighborhood's First Friday Art Walk is a great way to explore it all.

Good to Know: The 40 West ArtLine is a walking and biking art experience located in the heart of the 40 West Arts Creative District along historic West Colfax Avenue and the W Line light rail.

Dynamic Variation: