The excitement and attraction of Colorado is two-fold—the state is known for its gorgeous, towering mountain ranges and ski resorts, as well as a brimming art scene. Collectors and art lovers from across the country flock to the state each year to attend some of the top annual art events, or explore its many museums and galleries.
Downtown Denver at golden hour. Photo by Andrew Coop.
Denver has a lot to boast about. The state capital is home to the Denver Art Museum, which houses more than 7,000 works in its modern and contemporary art collection. The museum also features exhibitions throughout the year from some of the foremost contemporary artists working today. It also is set to be home to the Denver Fine Art Fair, an elegant event that will be showcasing an exclusive lineup of more than 60 esteemed galleries from across the United States and Europe. The fair features hundreds of emerging, midcareer and blue-chip artists. For a truly wild experience, check out Meow Wolf Denver. The New Mexico-based arts and entertainment company established a Denver location in 2021 called Convergence Station. The art installation allows visitors to embark on a journey of “immersive psychedelic, mind-bending art” within a surreal, science fiction narrative.
A view of the resorts in Vail, Colorado, in winter. Photo by Jack Affleck.In Aspen, collectors will find the summer fine art fair Intersect Aspen. Formerly Art Aspen, the fair comprises a curated selection highlighting the vibrancy of the Aspen arts and cultural scene. Moving to the charming town of Loveland, the annual Sculpture in the Park show and sale, organized by the nonprofit Loveland High Plains Arts Council, takes place this August 12 to 14.
Pedestrians explore the heart of the Breckenridge, Colorado, Creative District. Photo by Joe Kusomoto.The entire state of Colorado is truly abundant with arts events and fantastic, eclectic galleries to explore, including Abend Gallery, Claggett/Rey Gallery, Gallery 1261, Tania Dibbs of Big Sky Studio, Inc., FABA Pagosa, Pine Moon Fine Art, Raitman Art Galleries, RiNo Art District and Westward Gallery. Read on to learn more about these galleries and institutions, found throughout the Centennial State.
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Abend Gallery
1261 Delaware Street, Suite 2
Denver, CO 80204
(303) 355-0950
www.abendgallery.com
Established in 1990 by Chris Mileham, Abend Gallery disrupts the rigid expectations of galleries by offering and featuring a wide array of styles that range from plein air to contemporary figurative art and even unusual techniques such as quilling. Abend Gallery represents artists like Ifeoluwa Alade, Raymond Bonilla, Adam Hall, Robin Hextrum and Lindsey Kustusch. With accessibility in mind, Abend features more than 4,000 artworks including 1,500 original, handmade artworks under $1,000.
Abend Gallery, New Growth in Old Ice, oil on panel 24 x 30", by Robin Hextrum.
Abend Gallery, Warming, oil on panel 14 x 11", by O’Neil Scott.
Abend Gallery’s interior showroom
“Right now, our culture occupies a pivotal moment where it is rediscovering its love for art…While many thought galleries would suffer during the pandemic (and that’s certainly true for some) there have been many like Abend that have been even more successful despite the challenges.” — Samantha Manion-Chavez, associate director, Abend Gallery
Abend Gallery will be featured in the upcoming and much-anticipated ART NOW Fair for its debut year in Salt Lake City, Utah. In December 2022, Abend plans to attend a currently undetermined fair during Art Basel Week. Abend focuses on a high number of shows each year, including more than 40 mini solo exhibitions, several group shows and art fairs. This year, the gallery has an exciting group of solos, including Kustusch, Hextrum, Bonilla, Alade, Alexandra Manukyan, Phoenix Chan, Calvin Lai, Lucia Heffernan, Miguel Escobar Uribe, Grant Gilsdorf, and many more.
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Gallery 1261
1261 Delaware Street, Suite 2
Denver, CO 80204
(303) 571-1261
www.gallery1261.com
Gallery 1261, Amber Eve, oil on panel, 48 x 36", by Ron Hicks.
Gallery 1261, Dahlia Eventide, oil on panel, 40 x 30", by Daniel J. Keys.
“Gallery 1261 had its best year ever in 2021. We saw a continued increase in online sales worldwide…But, we also saw a significant increase in our local sales compared to previous years…So far, 2022 is off to a strong start, and we look forward to the upcoming year.” — David Ethridge, director, Gallery 1261
Gallery 1261, established in 2004, is located in the Golden Triangle Museum District, two blocks away from the Denver Art Museum. The vision of Gallery 1261 is one of enhanced freedom for artists to express modern takes on bygone eras of traditional fine art. From nudes to plein air paintings, artworks are revisited and revitalized by pure expression and artistic talent. By bringing these age-old practices into the scope of the contemporary lens, Gallery 1261 shifts the dialogue to an inclusive reexamination of the past as a method of understanding the future. Some of the artists Gallery 1261 represents includes Mia Bergeron, Rose Frantzen, Daniel J. Keys, David Grossmann, Ron Hicks, Jill Soukup, Daniel Sprick, Adrienne Stein and Anthony Waichulis.
Gallery 1261 is the brainchild of artist Quang Ho, who wanted a place where artists he knows and admires can show the work that is truly important, done without constraints of marketing strategies and sales quotas.
An interior view of Gallery 1261.
The gallery will be featured in the upcoming and much anticipated ART NOW Fair for its debut year in Salt Lake City, Utah. Upcoming solo exhibitions include Soukup, Sprick, Hicks, Kevin Weckbach, Ulrich Gleiter, Valerio D’Ospina, Gregory Block and Megan Read.
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Raitman Art Galleries
Breckenridge, CO, (970) 547-8399
Vail, CO, (970) 476-4883
www.raitmanart.com
Raitman Art Galleries was founded in 2007 in the beautiful mountain town of Breckenridge, Colorado. Fourteen-plus years of growth driven by a loyal collector base has seen the gallery go from a small 850-square-foot-space to 8,000 square feet, spread out between three locations in both Breckenridge and the classic ski town of Vail, Colorado. The galleries operate with the belief that art should make us smile. Art should be uplifting, inspiring and fun. Art is an instrument of preserving the beauty of this planet and the ingenuity of the human spirit. Raitman Art Galleries’ collection showcases the Rocky Mountain region’s most acclaimed artists, with a focus on distinctive works that have a fresh energy.
Raitman Art Galleries, Rocky Mountain Range, oil on canvas, 30 x 40" by Robert Moore.
Raitman Art Galleries, Raven and a Wreath, patina on bronze, 33 x 45", by Nathan Bennett.
Exciting exhibitions are abound in March, with famed impressionist painter Robert Moore visiting the Raitman Art Galleries’ Vail location. Moore’s lush landscapes are alive with vibrant color and supple textures, and his distinguished mark making makes his work instantly recognizable. Coming to Breckenridge is Nathan Bennett, possibly the world’s only patina artist working in a two-dimensional format. Bennett’s works on bronze are born in fire. Each piece is created in an alchemist manner of mixing chemicals with heat to add color to sheets of shimmering bronze. His mastery of the materials has led to the creation of striking realist works in a unique medium.
A menagerie of artwork in Raitman Art Galleries’ location in Vail, Colorado.Visit Raitman Art Galleries’ website to learn more about its history, view its entire collection and purchase works directly online.
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Claggett/Rey Gallery
216 Main Street, Suite C-100
Edwards, CO 81632
(970) 476-9350
www.claggettrey.com
Claggett/Rey Gallery, Apples, oil, 30 x 30", by Derek Penix.
Claggett/Rey Gallery is nestled in the heart of the Vail Valley, elevating their artists to an international stage. They offer an expansive cross section of genres including traditional and contemporary Western, international landscapes, allegorical vignettes and modern expressions. Meticulously displayed and illuminated in their museum style backdrop, the artwork holds the spotlight.
Claggett/Rey Gallery, Daphne, bronze, 48 x 24 x 8",by Jane DeDecker.
Claggett/Rey Gallery is a family-owned gallery featuring contemporary and Western works.
“We are a source of comfort and expertise assisting in the challenges and excitement of exploring the possibilities to help our clients enjoy the process [of collecting art].” — Bill Rey, co-owner, Claggett/Rey Gallery
Gallery co-owner Maggie Rey comments, “In 2022 we are excited to host an exhibition for Derek Penix from March 1 to 31, featuring over 20 paintings uniquely created for this show. With great honor (topping off March) we host a collection of intimate vignettes by artist Timothy Standring—exhibition on display from March 21 to April 11. July 1 will launch our opening of Josh Elliott’s showcase of large works on canvas, and for August we are gearing up for a James Reynolds retrospective. We have a lot to look forward to in this coming year with new masterpieces from all of our artists.”
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Westward Gallery
4400 Tennyson Street
Denver, CO 80212
(720) 483-1046
michelle@westwardgallery.com
www.westwardgallery.com
Westward Gallery, located in the heart of the Tennyson Street District in northwest Denver, just celebrated its five year anniversary. Featuring artists from the Denver and surrounding areas, owner and artist-in-residence Michelle Courier continues to display her works along with 20 artists she has hand-selected. The gallery features an ongoing rotation and curates a new show featured every first Friday of the month. 
Westward Gallery, Neon Forest, acrylic on canvas, 24 x 24", by Michelle Courier.
Westward Gallery, Gummy Bear Affair, acrylic on canvas, 36 x 36", by Michelle Courier.
“It’s a lot of work to have a large number of artists, but I find it encourages and motivates us to all be creative,” says Courier. “The flow of the gallery is consistent and complementary from piece to piece, creating a beautiful collection.”
Artist and gallery owner Michelle Courier.The pieces displayed at Westward Gallery follow the seasons through color and subject. The 3,000-square-foot gallery with its large, spacious windows, allows clients and the community to view works throughout the year. Courier’s latest pieces pull from fun themes, such as her most recent collection of gummy bears and candy colored aspens featuring pinks, mint greens and lemon yellows. Westward Gallery also works closely with clients, which allows each customer a unique and personal piece by Courier or another gallery artist. She invites the Denver community and beyond to attend an upcoming First Friday opening from 6 to 9 p.m. at the gallery to view their exciting rotating exhibitions.
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Tania Dibbs
Big Sky Studio, Inc.
266 Mountain Court, Basalt, CO 81621
(970) 948-4075, admin@taniadibbs.com
www.taniadibbs.com
An interior view of Tania Dibbs’ gallery space in Basalt, Colorado.
Tania Dibbs of Big Sky Studio, Inc. is a technically gifted and accomplished artist who explores the jagged intersection between the natural world, humanity and culture through painting and sculpture. Her work can be found in the United States, Europe and Australia, and her pieces have also been included in major hotels like the Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton and Gaylord National, among many others, while Restoration Hardware sells reproductions of her work. 
Tania Dibbs creates paintings and sculptures from her Colorado studio.Dibbs maintains a working studio and gallery near Aspen, Colorado, and is open to visitors by appointment. Visit www.taniadibbs.com for more information.
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RiNo Art District
Denver, CO
www.rinoartdistrict.org
Mural art by artist and activist Shepard Fairey in the RiNo Art District.
Public art by Koko Bayer, related to prominent Austrian-American artist and designer Herbert Bayer, in the RiNo Art District.
RiNo Art District is a grassroots nonprofit made up of passionate advocates who believe in the power of art to connect people and create a thriving community. From galleries, art studios, world class murals and places to eat and drink, the district is a fantastic place to create your own art adventure. First Fridays happen monthly as well as several special events throughout the year. The district has a total of 25 galleries, more than 200 artists and approximately 250 murals district wide.
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Pine Moon Fine Art
117 9th Street
Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
(970) 879-2787
info@pinemoonfineart.com
www.pinemoonfineart.com
Established in 2016 and located in beautiful downtown Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Pine Moon Fine Art offers a broad range of artwork by 14 local artists. The gallery curates a new exhibition every month with both traditional and contemporary works in acrylic, oil, bronze, graphite, paper, photography, glass, printmaking and watercolor. They also have beautiful hand-made jewelry. 
Pine Moon Fine Art’s gallery space in picturesque downtown Steamboat Springs
An indoor look at Pine Moon Fine Art.Upcoming exhibitions at the gallery include printmaker Jill Bergman and bronze sculptor Sandy Graves in March, a group show in April/May and a solo show for acrylic painter Missy Borden in June. In July is Paulina M. Johnson, who works with paper on edge, and in August is Jennifer Baker, working in kiln-formed glass.
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FABA Pagosa
424 Pagosa Street
Pagosa Springs, CO 81147
(720) 371-3424
fabapagosa@gmail.com
www.fabapagosa.com
A view of the interior of FABA Pagosa.
FABA Pagosa provides a space for artists to display their latest works.
FABA Pagosa is a gallery nestled in the valley below Wolf Creek ski area in Pagosa Springs, a town known for its world-class hot springs. The pandemic has taken this sleepy town to a new bustling community that is starving for more culture. FABA Pagosa was born during the pandemic to provide an outlet to artists who lost their art shows. The main artist is the namesake Bear Mclaughlin, who has been a professional artist her entire life and has made many friends along the way. At FABA Pagosa, collectors will find an eclectic group of creations both cutting edge and quirky, and not found in most other galleries. —
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