The Art Lover's Guide to Collecting Fine Art in
hroughout Colorado are a number of cultural hubs that
lure in art collectors from all over the country. They
brim with annual events, must-visit museums and
art fairs featuring some of the leading galleries in the
nation. There are also art festivals throughout the state for
collectors of painting, sculpture, photography and more.
Among the major draws to the Mile High City are its creative
neighborhoods. Arts on Belmar has a handful of artist-owned
studios and galleries; the River North Art District—or RiNo,
as it’s more familiarly known—is home to artists, designers,
fi lmmakers and architects; and the Tennyson Street Cultural
District boasts nearly 10 blocks of shopping as well as the First
Friday Cultural Walk. November 1 through 9 is the annual
Denver Arts Week, a citywide celebration with more than 300
events at galleries, museums, theaters and concert halls.
Over the years, Loveland has become known for its strong
ties to three-dimensional artwork. It is home to the Benson
Sculpture Garden, which has 164 pieces of sculpture on
permanent display across its 10 acres. In 1984 a group of fi ve
sculptors from Loveland, along with the City and the Chamber
of Commerce, came up with the idea for an exhibition in the
park. The fi rst Sculpture in the Park, hosted by the Loveland
High Plains Arts Council, opened that same year. Since that
time, the exhibition, which has its 36th edition August 9 to11, has raised proceeds for the Benson Sculpture Garden to
purchase sculptures as well as for its upkeep.
Each year in Aspen, Urban Expositions hosts Art Aspen at
the Aspen Ice Garden. This year’s event takes place July 26 to
28, with its opening night preview benefi tting The Art Base on
July 25 from 5 to 9 p.m. The intimate fair includes approximately
30 dealers displaying work from the 1950s to present-day.
Steamboat Springs also has developed its art scene over the
years, with the Steamboat Art Museum being one of the most
notable stops. This year, from May 24 through September 2, the
museum will host an exhibition featuring the American Women
Artists. The museum also has its own plein air event, featuring
more than 50 artists painting the sights of Steamboat Springs
for a week before exhibiting their work at the museum. This
year’s paint out happens September 21 through 27.
One of the state’s largest plein air groups is Plein Air
Artists Colorado, featuring members from the state who help
preserve the tradition of painting outdoors. The group hosts
annual shows, with its next one taking place June 1 to 28. The
Center for the Arts Evergreen presents its 46th annual Rocky
Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition September 13 to
October 26 featuring leading watercolorists. Some of the other
artists calling the state home are Courtney Cotton, Rochelle
Johnson and Sandy Graves.Colorado
Public art on display in downtown Colorado Springs. Photo
by Matt Inden/Miles. Courtesy Colorado Tourism Offi ce.T