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Clyfford Still Museum Opens to the Public in Denver

The Clyfford Still Museum opened its doors to the public on November 18, 2011, reintroducing the life and work of one of America’s most significant yet least understood artists.


Clyfford Still Museum

The Clyfford Still Museum was founded to promote public and scholarly understanding of the late artist’s work and legacy, through the presentation and preservation of the Clyfford Still and Patricia Still estates, donated to the City of Denver in 2004 and 2005 respectively, and totaling approximately 2,400 artworks. Considered one of the most important painters of the twentieth century, Still (1904 – 1980) was among the first generation of Abstract Expressionist artists who developed a new, powerful approach to painting in the years immediately following World War II. The Stills’ estates—now understood to contain 94 percent of the artist’s total output—as well as his extensive archive, have been sealed off from the public since 1980.

Designed by Brad Cloepfil and Allied Works Architecture and located in Denver, Colorado, the new museum resides in the heart of the city’s Civic Center Cultural Complex, near the Denver Art Museum and its Daniel Libeskind-designed building, the Denver Public Library designed by Michael Graves, and History Colorado designed by David Tryba.

Considered one of the most important painters of the 20th century, Clyfford Still (1904-1980) was among the first generation of Abstract Expressionist artists who developed a new and powerful approach to painting in the years immediately following World War II. After the artist’s death in 1980, the Clyfford Still Estate was sealed off from public and scholarly view. Still’s will stipulated that his estate be given in its entirety to an American city willing to establish a permanent museum dedicated solely to his work, ensuring its survival for exhibition and study. In August 2004, the City of Denver, under the leadership of then Mayor John W. Hickenlooper, was selected by Still’s wife, Patricia Still, to receive the substantial Still collection. In 2005, Patricia Still also bequeathed to the city her own estate, which included select paintings by her husband as well as his complete archives. The Still Museum collection, which represents nearly 94 percent of the artist’s lifetime output, includes approximately 2,400 works created between 1920 and 1980.

CLYFFORD STILL MUSEUM
1250 Bannock Street
Denver, CO 80204
tel 720-354-4880
[email protected]
www.clyffordstillmuseum.org

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