I had time today to take a trip to Denver and visit the Denver Art Museum. I was pleasantly surprised by the exhibition on the 3rd and 4th Floor: Stampede—Animals In Art. What an amazing array of artwork from around the globe and through the centuries.

See how animals have captivated artists throughout history in Stampede: Animals in Art. This cross-departmental exhibition brings together more than 300 objects from the Denver Art Museum’s collection to explore the presence of animals in art throughout centuries and across cultures.

Stampede creates an opportunity for visitors to discover and consider the role animals play through themes such as personal connections with animals, how animal materials have been used in art, how animals are used to tell stories or represent political ideas, and how artists use animals in imaginative ways. It includes visitor favorites such as a four-faced Hamat’sa Mask, Deborah Butterfield’s horse sculptures, artworks by Frederic Remington and Georgia O’Keeffe, as well as rarely seen works.

Visitors can try their hand at drawing in the gallery and spend time closely looking at smaller objects in a “cabinet of curiosities.” Stampede also features an interactive space where visitors can learn about the creative process behind the Never Alone video game created by Native North Alaskan storytellers. In conjunction with Stampede, visit the 3-D Studio on level one for hands-on artmaking activities related to animals.

Stampede: Animals in Art is organized by the Denver Art Museum. The exhibition curation has been led by John Lukavic, curator of Native arts, and Florence Müller, Avenir Foundation Curator of Textile Art and Fashion at the DAM.