Clyfford Still Museum

"If there’s one museum that surprises you in the Mile High City, our money’s on the Clyfford Still Museum. At first glance, your eyes might slide over the imposing, cantilevered concrete building located adjacent to the much larger Denver Art Museum in the Golden Triangle. But don’t miss this rarely crowded, under-the-radar gem. Inside, a 3,125-piece collection focuses on the life and work of Clyfford Still, a modern artist famous for his groundbreaking abstract paintings. Spacious exhibition halls guide you chronologically through Still’s body of work, beginning with small sketches and landscape paintings from the 1920s and culminating in colorful canvases from the 1950s that cover the whole wall. This is a museum that educates without pretension; conversational placards prompt visitors to look at specific lines or colors in each painting and well-placed benches are the perfect place to contemplate Still’s influential contribution to the modern art movement." - Megan Barber, Nicholas DeRenzo

"Clyfford Still brought new energy to the art world after World War II with his large-scale, color-splashed paintings, and is considered one of the most important American artists of the 20th century. Though his influence on the Abstract Expressionism movement was at least as important as that of contemporaries Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko, Still eventually broke all ties with the art world after moving to a farm in Maryland, and following his death in 1980 a huge collection of his work was sealed off completely for more than 30 years. His is widow donated his pieces to the city of Denver in 2004, and in 2011 the Clyfford Still Museum opened, housing 94 percent of his life’s work, including some 825 paintings on canvas and 1,575 works on paper, as well as sketchbooks, journals, and his library—in a museum considered one of the best examples of contemporary architecture in the city."

"Start us off with an overview. Located adjacent to the much larger Denver Art Museum , the Clyfford Still Museum is an intimate exploration of abstract art housed in an imposing, cantilevered concrete building. Built in 2011 specifically to display the work of American artist Clyfford Still, the museum is an under-the-radar, rarely crowded gem on the Denver art scene. So tell us about the collection. The 3,200-piece collection tracks the life and work of Still, a modern artist famous for his groundbreaking work as an Abstract Expressionist. The museum guides you chronologically through his body of work, beginning in the 1920s with his sketches and small landscape paintings, and culminating in monumental large-format canvas paintings from the 1950s that are flooded with color. Visitors learn a lot as they walk through the halls, but it doesn’t feel like a boring lecture; conversational museum placards avoid jargon and instead prompt you to look at specific lines or colors in a painting, opening them up to interpretation. It’s an insightful way to see how much an artist changes over time, and you leave with a much better understanding of both Still and of modern art. What are your thoughts on the space? Is everything presented well? The space itself is a master class on what a modern museum is all about: large, well-lit exhibition halls let the artwork shine; wide, textured concrete hallways never feel cramped; and benches let you spend time contemplating the artwork. What's the vibe inside, and what kind of crowd does the museum draw? Unlike the much busier museums nearby, the Clyfford Still Museum feels like an insider gem you stumbled on thanks to an artsy friends’ recommendation. Geeky abstract art aficionados slowly walk from room to room, painstakingly admiring Still’s work, but the museum’s layout is so friendly and its information so well presented that it never feels pretentious. Parents take note: While there is a “Making Space” for kids to tackle their own creations, it’s not a museum dedicated to family fun. Instead, this museum appeals to creative types on pilgrimage to see some serious art. Gift shop: obligatory, inspiring—or skip it? A small gift shop offers items focused on Clyfford Still's life, but it’s not a focal point. Instead, head to the other side of the building for a look at the museum archives, including huge pull-out shelves that hold paintings not currently on display. If we get hungry, is there a café we can drop by for a break? Head elsewhere for a snack, as there's no restaurant on site. How much time should we allot for a visit? Don’t worry about museum fatigue here; a full tour of the exhibits and archives takes around 60 minutes." - Megan Barber

"The 3,200-piece collection tracks the life and work of Clyfford Still, a modern artist famous for his groundbreaking work as an Abstract Expressionist. The museum guides you chronologically through his body of work, beginning in the 1920s with his sketches and small landscape paintings, and culminating in monumental large-format canvas paintings from the 1950s flooded with color. Visitors learn a lot as they walk through the halls, but it doesn’t feel like a boring lecture. It’s an insightful way to see how much an artist changes over time, and you leave with a much better understanding of both Still and of modern art." - Megan Barber