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The Kirkland Museum has a nationally important collection of 20
th century decorative arts with more than 3,300 displayed works of Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, Glasgow, Bauhaus, Art Deco, Modern and Pop Art Styles. The Museum was built as an art school in 1911 and contains the historic studio of Colorado modernist painter Vance Kirkland.Vance Kirkland's paintings are hung throughout the building.
Vance Kirkland was born in Convoy, Ohio in 1904 and received his art education at the Cleveland Institute of Art. He was a founding Director of the Art School at the University of Denver. Kirkland left the University because it wouldn't give full academic credit for their art classes. He started the Kirkland School of Art in 1932 with classes accredited by the University of Colorado. In 1946 the University of Denver invited Kirkland to return to the school as Director of the School of Art with a salary equal to that paid to the Chancellor.
From 1932 to his death in 1981, Kirkland used 1311 Pearl Street as his personal studio. Kirkland's alchemic techniques and ingenious use of color showcase his avant-garde style of painting. The Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Arts is a National Trust Associate Site.
English born artist Henry Read commissioned architects Maurice Biscoe and Henry Hewitt to construct a building at 1311 Pearl Street to house his students' School of Art. Biscoe originally came to Denver to supervise the construction of St. John's Episcopal Cathedral. Though trained as a Beaux-Arts architect, Briscoe's design for 1311 Pearl is classic Arts and Crafts style. Biscoe and Hewitt also designed Clayton College for Boys located at 32nd and Colorado Blvd. and the Helen Bonfils home at 707 Washington Street.
The museum is open year round 11 am to 5 pm Tuesday-Saturday and 1 pm to 5 pm Sundays. Regular tours are offered at 1:30 pm Wednesday-Saturday as well as group tours by appointment and are ADA compliant. A special architect tour is available that focuses on the history of the building and the over 60 designers in our decorative art collection who were also architects.
FUN FACTS
Kirkland's historic studio building is Denver's oldest commercial art building and Colorado's second oldest after the Van Briggle Memorial Pottery Building in Colorado Springs.
Henry Read was one of 13 founding members of the Artist's Club in 1893 that in 1923 became the Denver Art Museum.
When Vance Kirkland retired from the University of Denver in 1969, the Art Department had the largest number of undergraduate majors - 400.
Other Sites to Visit
The Molly Brown House
Black American West Museum
Four Mile Historic Park
Historic Fairmount Cemetery
Best Time to Visit
Anytime
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