American Indian Art Galleries

The Denver Art Museum has revamped its American Indian art galleries on the second and third floors of the museum's North Building. The museum closed the galleries in 2010 for about nine months to reorganize the presentation of almost 700 artworks, which range from Navajo rugs to modern paintings.

The new layout of the galleries focuses on an "artist-centric" presentation rather than grouping by chronological order or tribe, said Nancy Blomberg, curator of the Native Arts collections. "American Indian artists are some of the most creative and expressive artists in the world," said Blomberg.

The galleries also include interactive information rather than two-dimensional text about the art. For example, painter Mateo Romero explains the inspiration for his bold riffs on contemporary culture through a series of video clips next to paintings from his Bonnie and Clyde series.

The galleries also include hands-on activities for children, including a beading station where young artists can create their own beading projects. "There's a lot of hands-on in that presentation, which is not only fun for kids... but is fun for adults as well," said Christoph Heinrich, Frederick and Jan Mayer director of the DAM.

The art galleries, which feature artwork from around 50 living artists, also challenge assumptions about American Indian art. The galleries include traditional artwork, as well as artwork from American Indian artists working in non-traditional media such as glass and oils.

The art museum also displays contemporary artwork next to its traditional counterparts for a look into the evolving American Indian culture. "We're juxtaposing old and new, and combining these stories," Blomberg said. The museum also commissioned several works of art for the display, including pieces such as Modern Warrior Series: War Shirt #4.

Location:
Denver Art Museum
100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy
Denver, CO 80204
720-865-5000

Hours:
Tues. - Thurs. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Fri. 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Sat. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sun. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
The American Indian art galleries are included in regular admission. The Denver Art Museum is closed on Mondays.

Admission:
Colorado Residents: Adults $10, Seniors/Students $8, Youth $3
Out-of-State Residents: Adults $13, Seniors/Students $10, Youth $5
Admission for children under 5 is free for residents and non-residents alike.
Admission is free for Colorado residents of all ages the first Saturday of every month.