Jan 8, 2026 - Things to Do

A new Denver statue reimagines a Western icon

Esteban L. Hernandez

Bronze statue of a cowgirl in a hat holding a lasso beside a longhorn steer outside a building under clear blue sky. — Cliff Garten's "Taking Stock" at the National Western Center main plaza. Photo: Esteban L. Hernandez/Axios

A recent addition to Denver's public art scene spotlights a figure rarely highlighted in the popular iconography of the American West: an Indigenous cowgirl.

State of play: Sculptor Cliff Garten's "Taking Stock" features an American Indian cowgirl connected to a massive bull, challenging the "mythology of the West," most often depicted by Hollywood, Garten said in a statement.

It joins the city's vibrant public art collection, which includes other Western gems like "Broncho Buster" and "Cowboy on Bronco."

Context: The 20-foot-long bronze installation from the California-based artist will serve as a centerpiece at the National Western Center's main campus plaza in north Denver.

The sprawling campus is also home to Colorado State University's satellite school, plus a mix of new and historic buildings.

If you go: The sculpture is at the entrance of the new 5,000-seat CoBank Arena at the National Western Center campus at 4655 Humboldt St.

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A new Denver statue reimagines a Western icon

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