Jul 15, 2026 - Things to Do

MCA Denver readies huge Colorado anniversary exhibition

Esteban L. Hernandez

Desert landscape painting: blue-grey jagged mountains left, pale pink rock domes right, gray pyramids in the center, and sparse shrubs across a pale mint sky. — "This was going to be, the northern most continent, but the plans changed" by Evan Forrest Mann. Photo: Courtesy of Mann

MCA Denver's chief curator Miranda Lash visited studios across Colorado to orchestrate a celebration of the state's 150th anniversary.

Zoom in: After nearly two years of planning, the museum next week premieres "Colorado Currents," a gargantuan exhibition bringing together recent works by 28 artists with ties to the Centennial State.

Context: Lash focused on finding artists who hadn't been featured at the museum before, asking them to consider the state in contemporary terms and how they hope to see the state develop in the future, she tells us.

The exhibition is meant to spotlight work from people across the state, not just Denver.

The intrigue: The exhibition is split into three major categories, including Colorado history, local and family legacies, and nature, which explores present-day concerns like water usage, drought and wildfires.

Costumes, drawings, photography, paintings and a 3D-printed adobe structure will also be on display.

What they're saying: "There's a million beautiful stories that we didn't get to, but I find that these types of projects get the conversation going," Lash tells us.

If you go: "Colorado Currents" debuts July 24 at MCA Denver and runs through Nov. 1.

Tickets for the opening celebration start at $32.

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MCA Denver readies huge Colorado anniversary exhibition

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