Denver Art Museum

This review is for the new Hamilton Wing which we visited last weekend. - As a New Yorker used to the fine spaces at MoMa and at the Met Museum, I was curious to see the new architecture at the DAM. The galleries are disorienting, disquieting, headache-inducing spaces. What an awful concept for a Museum. I keep asking myself how did this thing get built? Who authorized such a sad monumental waste of time, money and energy. Its like a bad gimmick. I felt I should get my money back. more

On Sunday I went to the new Hamilton Wing. It is disappointing. The place is just confusing. And what's with the angled walls? This is supposed to be a place where art is displayed respectfully. I felt like I was in a theme park of some sort. I won't be going there again! Pros: parking, access Cons: Badly designed galleries in Hamilton Wing more

I came mainsly to see the ""cutting edge"" architecture. Of the three buildings, two are poor, and the new one, Hamilton Wing is downright ugly. and that one is already falling apart inside - looks like it is made of white cardboard. The Indian art is interesting, The contemporary art in the new building is as pretentious as the architecture. This is what happents when a museum tries to hard to impress - when they fail, they fail spectacularly. - My advice, - come to Denver for the skiing, but go to New York or Chicago for art and architecture. more

I went to the new Libeskind Wing last weekend. It looks like a toolshed, feels like being in an underground gas station and doesn't seem to be able to accomodate artwork in a convincing way. No-one will convince me that this is challenging new architecture. This building is one big embarrassing mistake. I'm sorry I wasted my time visiting this so-called icon, but I'm glad it wasn't built in my town. Cons: Architecture is just plain ugly. more

I found the new Hamilton Wing to be a big letdown. The galleries are drably lit and confusing. The crazy room shapes don't help the artwork and it is hard to settle on anything long enough to appreciate it. I hope the museum finds some place better to display their collection. Until they do, I won't be spending any more of my money visiting the place. Pros: Parking; cheap cafeteria Cons: Art suffers in the Hamilton Wing. Lack of daylight in galleries is depressing. more

I went to visit the much ballyhooed Hamilton Wing last weekend. It is a joke. It looks like a piece of space junk that fell out of orbit. The inside just gets worse. No walls to hang art, just a lot of crazy confusing angles everywhere. If this is the best of contemporary design, we're in a bad way. Pros: Reasonable Price more

The Denver Art Museum has an interesting collection of Asian and Native american artifacts not found in a lot of museums. The staff are friendly. The only problems are the museum spaces. The Gio Ponti building is a dated fortress-like structure. The new Hamilton Wing by ""star architect"" Daniel Libeskind is one of the most horrible, lumpen, mishapen piles anywhere in the world. I can think of no worse place to curate or view a show. What were the Museum Staff and Trustees thinking when the commissioned these disastrous spaces? Did anyone think about display of the art? I could not get out fast enough. It is a pity when one man's ego (Libeskind's) gets in the way of real works of art. Pros: Native American Collection Cons: The Libeskind-designed wing (pretentious garbage) more

I was disappointed that this new museum treats the art like it was an afterthought. The confusing and tortured rooms are not suited for contemplation or enjoyment of works of art. Everyone was milling about, searching for some restful space that does not seem to exist. The new building is very annoying. It is hard to believe that the people who designed it know or care anything about art. The architecture would be more suited to an amusement park or a fast-food restaurant. Pros: Parking Cons: The new building is awful. more

So, why would this be under free attractions, it's nowhere near free! more

most fun and inventive kids section on C-level the Dutch show was great always something going on ! more

Denver's premier cultural attraction showcases world-class art in a building that's a work of art in itself. more

Pallett resturant is a top place to eat before or after you view their current exhibit or any of the regular exhibits. Great Native American exhibit. Great activities for kids. Excellent gift shop. Pros: clean, inexpensive, great exhibits, good parking more

Excellent value for members, especially for special exhibits open to members only on Mondays. Pros: great staff, Frequent visitor more