High Design in Denver A closer look at three of Denver's favorite museums of modern art.
ARTICLE DANA LAPINEL Clyfford Still Museum, Photography Raul Garcia
CLYFFORD STILL MUSEUM WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW
As the name implies, this museum features the work of the late American artist, Clyfford Still. Still was a leading figure in the first generation of Abstract Expressionists. This was a new style of painting that evolved right after World War II. His non-figurative paintings largely are composed of juxtaposing different color and shapes, particularly with impasto (thick layers of paint). WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
For at least three decades about 95 percent of Clyfford Still’s work was hidden from the public when he decided to further himself from the art world. Although in 1978, two years before his death, Still left his collection of work and archives with his wife Patricia and stated in his will: “I give and bequeath all the remaining works of art executed by me in my collection to an American city that will agree to build or assign and maintain permanent quarters exclusively for these works of art…” With that being said, Patricia chose Denver in 2004 as the lucky city that would house approximately 3,200 works created by Still from 1920-1980, the majority of which had never been shown to the public eye. The museum now hosts a rotating series of his extensive work and explores his life, career and creativity. “It was no easy feat. Many other cities failed at convincing her,” says Dean Sobel director of the Clyfford Still Museum. “In fact, the Clyfford Still Museum is the world’s most intact public collection of any major American artist. It’s possible to see small collections of Still’s work in Museums in San Francisco and New York, but there is quite literally nothing else on this planet like this museum.” 30
Cherry Creek Lifestyle | October 2015