Denver has always been happy to flaunt its most visible artistic assets, given that they’ve helped reshape the city into a walkable playground of sculptures, murals and interactive installations.
Our 400-piece public art collection contains wildly diverse works, from Denver International Airport’s infamous “Mustang” (a.k.a. Blucifer) and the Colorado Convention Center’s “I See What You Mean” (unofficially: the Big Blue Bear) to the towering “Dancers” outside Denver Performing Arts Complex. But there are hundreds more, ranging from pioneering Latino murals to historic placards and poetry.
“We have anywhere between 10 to 18 new projects completed each year, and the number depends on a lot of factors,” said Michael Chavez, manager of the public art program and collection at Denver Arts & Venues. “This year is looking above average with some large, signature pieces set to be completed.”
Denver Arts & Venues, a city agency, has invested about $40 million into its public art collection since 1988. It’s spurred on by a rule requiring 1% of every municipal capital improvement project over $1 million to be set aside for a public art commission.
About 80 pieces are in progress, and more on deck, with unveiling dates typically dictated by the larger construction project, the artist’s progress and other unpredictable factors, Chavez said. More than 40 pieces have been installed since 2020, according to the city.
If you appreciate the tiny horse on a huge chair outside Denver Public Library’s main branch (“The Yearling”), or Denver Design Center’s 85-foot-tall, bright-yellow tower (“Articulated Wall”), you may want to check out these 6 public art pieces that have just debuted, or are set to debut in the coming months.
Free walking and bike tours — as well as guides to some of the biggest public art routes in the metro area — are available at denver.org/things-to-do/tours/public-art-walking-tour. Search for tours by neighborhood, kid-friendliness and other criteria at denverpublicart.org.
“Signs of Life,” South Broadway Corridor
This quirky, positive-messaging project from artist Jamie Pawlus consists of eight lighted pieces. They’ll arrive — along with new bike lanes and improvements — on South Broadway between Fifth and Bayaud avenues. A ribbon-cutting and community bike ride took place April 6 to celebrate the signs, which are designed to blend into the urban environment with multi-colored faux-street-sign messages such as “Happiness” and “You’re a Shining Star.” There are also interactive touches, such as a bench that reads “Somebody” or “Nobody” — depending on whether it’s occupied.
“The Journey,” Denver County Jail
This nearly completed project from artists Sean J. Marshall and Marissa Napoletano includes three large-scale murals in the Denver County Jail’s redesigned visitation room. As a former inmate, Marshall knows well the message of peace sent by the doves in the imagery, setting a calming tone in an otherwise anxiety-inducing environment where families are briefly reunited. One of the murals is painted on a 15-foot-by-53-foot wall and references Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, with hands outstretched and nearly touching, backed by overlapping doves. Napoletano and Marshall’s complementary styles meld delicate lines and intricate details that leap out at the viewer — though you’re not likely to see these unless you’ve got a reason to be there (hopefully you don’t). 10500 E. Smith Road, in Denver.
“Rising Together,” National Western Complex
The riverfront by the National Western Center Complex will perk up with “Rising Together,” an in-progress piece by artist Matthew Mazzotta, who uses hard angles and natural shapes in his pop art-flavored work. The area just west of the stock show complex, near 51st Avenue, will feature the barn-shaped sculpture, inspired by the historic tradition of community barn-raising. At 25 feet tall, 29 feet long, and 24 feet wide, the instantly visible piece will double as a gathering space for birthday parties and other impromptu events, with “beautiful” painting work on the roof by local muralist Bimmer Torres (yet to be rendered). Delayed by weather, the foundation was recently poured and fabrication has begun, Chavez said.
“Equis,” Denver Public Library Central Branch
A trio of pieces expected to finish this year were prompted by a bond package that funded improvements at the Denver Art Museum and the Denver Public Library Central Branch. The 1% budget on those was combined to create an “uber project,” Chavez said, featuring three sculptures by artist Paula Castillo. The first work, “Equis,” will be installed in the coming weeks, while the other two are slated to debut later this year. Look for the bold, pastel-hued sculptures — which play with language iconography and the idea of gateways in their stark silhouettes — in front of the library at 10 W. 14th Ave. The other sculpture will be located at 12th Avenue and Acoma Street, and 14th Avenue and Bannock Street.
“Thread of Words,” Speer Boulevard at Larimer Street
The sculpture “Thread of Words” features a multilingual poem transcribed in the Arapaho, Ute, Cheyenne and Spanish languages to honor the earliest residents of what is now Colorado. Seated on the Cherry Creek Bike Paty, near the Larimer Street bridge that connects downtown to the Auraria campus, its flowing ribbon of words will be rendered in 3-D relief for maximum visibility.
“Montbello Beacon,” at 12025 E. 45th Ave.
Recently unveiled in the Montbello neighborhood, “Montbello Beacon” towers outside the Denver Police District 5 Substation and 911 Call Center. The stainless sphere lights up dramatically at night, making for a striking addition to a site that many would not expect to host public art. When a selection committee member who was blind asked how they would be able to experience the art, it prompted a request for the artist Ray King to make a braille plaque, as well as a metal, 3D cut-out representation of what the sculpture feels like. “Next to the pedestal you can feel the shape of the sculpture that’s overhead,” Chavez said, adding that it’s not the last time you’ll see that treatment on Denver’s public art pieces.
