Denver's art scene may skew contemporary, only at our art museums, you lot'll detect everything from 19th century Western paintings to modern sculptures to works inspired by social justice. And with constantly rotating exhibitions, there's e'er something new to discover. Hither's the lowdown on seven of the city'south most prominent art museums—including some secrets even longtime members may not know—plus, some artsy destinations to visit across the state.

American Museum of Western Art

William Jacob Hays' "The Gathering of the Herds," 1866; photo courtesy of the American Museum of Western Fine art—the Anschutz Collection

One of downtown Denver's hidden gems, the nonprofit American Museum of Western Art, which opened to the public in 2012, houses the Anschutz Drove: more than 350 works depicting the American West from the 1820s to present day. These masterpieces—most of which are paintings in golden frames—are presented salon fashion across 3 floors of the historic Navarre Building, which was built in 1880 and has a unique history of its own. The venue is only open Mondays and Wednesdays, and general admission costs but $5. (Guided tours are available at 10 a.thou. and 1 p.m. for $10.)

"The more time you spend here, the more you see." —Kristin Fong, guests services and museum educator

Don't Miss: Visit the parlors at the front end of each floor, which have been furnished with period-appropriate furniture, rugs, and more (ignore the modern elevator), and offering a reminder of the building's history. In the second-flooring parlor, expect for the portrait of George Washington; it was painted circa 1823 and is the museum's oldest conquering.
Did You Know: The museum teams upwardly with Lighthouse Writers Workshop for monthly "Writing the West" events ($5). Instructors provide Western-themed writing prompts, and attendees are able to explore the museum, searching for inspiration for their writing.

1727 Tremont Place, anschutzcollection.org


Clyfford Even so Museum

A selection of Clyfford Still'southward works on brandish; photo by Raul Garcia, courtesy of the Clyfford Nonetheless Museum

The merely museum in boondocks dedicated to the work of a single artist, the Clyfford Still Museum brought national—and international—attending to Denver'south arts scene when information technology opened five years agone. Walking through the light-filled galleries, visitors are afforded a unique opportunity to study one of the most talented but relatively unknown abstruse expressionist painters of the 20th century and picket his style evolve over time.

"More money or fame or adulation or respect, Clyfford Still wanted his work to be seen and felt… [he] said his paintings were life itself, his life, on canvas." —Excerpt from "Clyfford Still'due south Unyielding Will," 5280, Nov 2011

Did You Know: Over the by v years, CSM has exhibited approximately 280 paintings—which amounts to just 33 percent of the paintings known to exist in its collections.

1250 Bannock St., clyffordstillmuseum.org


Denver Fine art Museum

The DAM's African gallery; photograph courtesy of the Denver Art Museum

The DAM, equally locals call it, is an "encyclopedic museum," meaning it focuses on many dissimilar types of art to help promote understanding and spark creativity. A recently hired textile art and fashion curator also ways visitors tin expect more fashion-related exhibitions in the future.

"We have some of the best collections in the whole state when it comes to certain types of [fine art, such as] pre-Colombian and Spanish colonial." —Shadia Lemus, communications manager

Did You Know: You can find kids' activities—many of which are hands-on—on every floor of the museum, including in the permanent collections. You can also selection upwardly a family backpack total of games, puzzles, and fine art-making tools to give kids with a new way to experience the museum.

100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway, denverartmuseum.org


Denver Botanic Gardens

Fine art and nature become one in Barry Flanagan'south "Hare on Bell on Portland Rock Piers," 1983; photo courtesy of the Denver Botanic Gardens

Sure, you lot visit the Botanic Gardens to smell the sweetly scented flowers, to get ideas for a sturdy Colorado garden, and to enjoy Blossoms of Light, merely the venue is too an accredited museum (the plants are considered a "living collection"). Since 2006, it's been domicile to outdoor sculptures—both permanent and traveling exhibits—and two indoor galleries that host small shows of local and regional artists, including by students at the Gardens' School of Botanical Art & Illustration. So, yes, fifty-fifty in the winter, a visit to the Gardens should exist on your calendar.

"A lot of people…see the plants as art and nature as fine art considering they're only so whimsical and hit. They feel it equally this art experience…even if there'due south not a traditional work of art before them." —Erin Bird, communications manager

Did Y'all Know: The Gardens offer myriad classes, including cooking, garden education, and even trips. Detect out what'southward coming up hither.

1007 York St., botanicgardens.org


Mizel Museum

Noah's Ark, created past Colorado creative person Scott Lyon for the Mizel Museum's permanent "Gathering Sparks" exhibit; photo courtesy of the Mizel Museum

As museum spokesperson Melanie Avner and then aptly put it, the Mizel "is not a typical museum, where people come for the showroom." Instead, the building is home to the permanent four,000 Year Road Trip: Gathering Sparks—a collection of installations, artifacts, and stunning artworks rooted in the Jewish experience, but intended to "spark" a broader conversation about tolerance and acceptance. Mizel also engages the customs on themes such as cantankerous-cultural agreement, social justice, and Holocaust sensation through public events, school programming, and more than. The museum is open on weekdays by appointment.

"Art is a bully way to educate because [it has] a personal message. Nosotros can employ art to tell a story through culture." —Penny Nisson, director of education

Don't Miss: One of the most stirring artworks in the museum is the drove of 12 portraits of Holocaust survivors (some of whom lived locally), drawn by Denver artist Deborah Howard. Four of her portraits are at present part of the permanent collection at the Holocaust Art Museum at Yad Vashem in State of israel.
Did You Know: The Samsonite luggage company was created in Colorado by the v Shwayder brothers. Larn about them and more local history in the Jewish Colorado room toward the end of the Gathering Sparks showroom.

400 South. Kearney St., mizelmuseum.org


Museo de las Americas

Museo'south terminal exhibition of the year focuses on hand-woven textiles; photo courtesy of Museo de las Americas

Museo de las Americas opened 25 years agone as a identify to celebrate the diversity of Latino Americano fine art, culture, and traditions—both modern and ancient. Museo serves as a hub to explore and amend our agreement of other cultures and peoples and has long been an anchoring presence in the Fine art District on Santa Fe. Exhibitions range from celebrations of individual artists (similar last year's Jerry De La Cruz retrospective) to explorations of issues of contemporary importance (such as a study of the Chicano movement or an showroom focused on our connection with the natural world).

"Museo plays an important role in building pride in the Latino community's heritage and promoting understanding among cultures." —Museo's website

Don't Miss: The museum'south simply permanent showroom is the orange-hued La Cocina, a replica of executive manager Maruca Salazar's grandmother's kitchen in Mexico. Explore the folk art and serving dishes to become a feel for our southern neighbors' everyday life.

861 Santa Fe Dr., museo.org


Museum of Contemporary Art Denver

Kim Dickey's "The Autumn Prepare," 2000; photo courtesy of the artist

One of the goals of the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver is to create a "culturally engaged community." And they accept no trouble doing and so: Betwixt diverse and always intriguing exhibitions, quirky programming, and an piece of cake-to-reach modern venue in LoDo, the MCA is the place in town to discover what's hip and talked about in the contemporary fine art world.

"MCA Denver is an innovative forum for contemporary art that inspires and challenges all audiences, creating understanding and dialog almost the art of our fourth dimension." —from MCA'due south curatorial statement

Did You lot Know: Throughout Arts Week, Colorado residents can bask penny admission at MCA Denver. And don't forget to stop by the museum shop, which is stocked with goodies from almost all Colorado-based merchants and vendors.

1485 Delgany St., mcadenver.org


Bonus: Six Route-Trip-Worthy Museums

Aspen Art Museum

The Aspen Art Museum, designed past Shigeru Ban Architects, is a work of art itself; photo courtesy of Michael Moran/OTTO

Whether yous're visiting Aspen for the skiing, the food, or chance celebrity sightings, you should make time to visit the striking Aspen Art Museum, which opened in its new location in August 2014. Deputy director John-Paul Schaefer says the venue focuses on presented work by underrepresented artists; group shows surrounding a topical political or social theme; and exhibiting works by artists in a medium that they're not known for (an exhibit a few years dorsum featured drawings by sculptors). Before you exit, head to the 3rd-floor roof deck for views of Aspen Mountain and Independence Pass. Museum admission is free, courtesy of a grant by local philanthropists Amy and John Phelan.

637 E. Hyman Ave., Aspen, aspenartmuseum.org

Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art

A scene from BMoCA'south "Evolving Visions of Land and Landscape" exhibition; photo courtesy of the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art

The Bedrock Museum of Contemporary Art was founded in 1972 by a group of local artists. Besides showing "meaning art of our fourth dimension," BMoCA has a particular skill for connecting audiences with fine art and artists beyond simply viewing the work. Take Ménage à Trois, for example: The three-function plan serial is led by the exhibiting artists, and includes conversations with creatives and curators, hands-on fine art-making, and interactive experiences.

1750 13th St., Bedrock, bmoca.org

Colorado Springs Fine Arts Eye Museum

Sculptures and floor-to-ceiling windows welcome visitors at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center Museum; photo courtesy of Phillip Spears

The museum (officially called the Taylor Museum) is just ane part of this fantastic nonprofit arts eye, which opened equally the FAC in 1936 and underwent a renovation and expansion in 2007; the venue is besides home to a professional theater and an fine art school. The get-go-floor galleries feature a rotating display from the museum's permanent collection, which contains more 20,000 pieces. Upstairs, art seekers will find traveling exhibitions that vary widely in theme, medium, and manner.

30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs, csfineartscenter.org/museum

Loveland Museum Gallery

Salvador Dali'southward "Supremes of Little Malaises," 1971; photo courtesy of Castellani Art Museum

No, this isn't near the ski hill. This 79-year-old museum is located in downtown Loveland, about 1 hr north of Denver. With a combination of art and history collections, Loveland is the only accredited museum in northern Colorado. The site regularly showcases work by local and regional artists and is dwelling to the almanac Governor'south Art Show. And nosotros can't forget to mention that general access is gratuitous, and it's only $5 for big-ticket exhibitions.

503 N. Lincoln Ave., Loveland, lovelandmuseumgallery.org

Museum of Outdoor Arts

The Museum of Outdoor Arts also has a beautiful indoor gallery space; photograph courtesy of MOA

While the Museum of Outdoor Arts does take a substantial outdoor sculpture collection—including more than 150 works, spread throughout Englewood, Greenwood Village, and Denver—that'due south not all its known for. The Englewood space also contains a more archetype gallery experience. Each year, the staff chooses an overarching theme; 2017'south is "In Evolution." Note: The museum'due south Marjorie Park site—which is located on the north side of Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre and named after Marjorie Madden, one of MOA's three founders—is unstaffed, simply free cocky-guided walking tours are available; you tin as well call the staff ahead of time to set up a more than traditional bout.

1000 Englewood Parkway, Englewood, moaonline.org

Steamboat Art Museum

Steamboat Art Museum celebrates 10 years with a wide-ranging exhibition, which includes this work past Jim Norton; photo courtesy of Steamboat Art Museum

Located in a historic building (really, two buildings) on Steamboat's chief elevate, the SAM's "primary focus is the civilisation and heritage of northwest Colorado," says executive manager Betse Grassby. Well-nigh exhibitions showcase the efforts of living artists, beyond various mediums. Heads upward: Renovations o refurbish the back function of the venue and thereby double the museum's exhibition space showtime in April of 2017. The SAM will be closed during construction and will reopen the post-obit September.

801 Lincoln Ave., Steamboat Springs, steamboatartmuseum.org


Plan Your Visit: Many of the museums in this guide host regular gratuitous days. Cheque out this calendar to find upcoming dates.