Denver's art scene has undergone a genuine transformation. The city that once seemed culturally overshadowed by Santa Fe and Scottsdale now has a gallery district (RiNo), a museum district (Golden Triangle), and a commercial gallery market that has attracted serious out-of-state interest. The altitude is real; so is the ambition.

The Denver Art Museum

The Denver Art Museum is the region's largest art museum and one of the most important in the West. The collection includes extraordinary depth in Native American art (roughly 18,000 objects), strong American and European holdings, and a modern wing designed by Daniel Libeskind that has become an architectural landmark. Budget at least three hours; the permanent collection alone rewards a full day.

RiNo: The Creative District

The River North Arts District — RiNo — is Denver's answer to Brooklyn's gallery scene: former industrial buildings converted into studios and commercial spaces, with murals covering virtually every available exterior wall. The density of creative energy here is real, even if the rapid gentrification has displaced many of the artists who originally made it interesting.

RedLine Contemporary Art Center is the most important nonprofit in the district — a hybrid studio residency and exhibition space that consistently produces shows of national quality. Emanuel Gallery on the Auraria Campus provides academic counterpoint, with a strong program of experimental work.

Commercial Galleries

Robischon Gallery is the most established commercial gallery in Denver, with a 40-year history and a roster that spans the range from abstract painting to digital media. Their program is reliably challenging and the space — in a historic building near the museum district — is one of the best in the city.

Walker Fine Art focuses on contemporary painting with an emphasis on Colorado and regional artists at the highest level of the market. Plus Gallery and Space Gallery provide additional breadth in the commercial scene, with complementary programs that lean toward photography and emerging artists respectively.

Museum of Contemporary Art Denver

The Museum of Contemporary Art Denver (MCA Denver), housed in a David Adjaye-designed building steps from the 16th Street Mall, presents some of the most ambitious programming of any small contemporary museum in the country. The rooftop bar doesn't hurt.

Practical Tips

  • The Golden Triangle Museum District (DAM, MCA Denver, Denver Art Society) is walkable.
  • RiNo is best explored on foot or by bike; parking is tight on weekends.
  • Denver's First Friday Art Walk (first Friday of every month, 6–9pm) covers both neighborhoods simultaneously.
  • August's Cherry Creek Arts Festival is one of the top juried outdoor art festivals in the country.