Known for its iconic and often conversation-starting art collection, DEN is welcoming several beloved pieces back to the Jeppesen Terminal after years in storage during Great Hall Program construction, much to the delight of art enthusiasts and conspiracy fans alike.
In Peace and Harmony with Nature by Leo Tanguma returned on Level 5, Northwest in August. Tanguma’s work references the social realist murals of Mexico depicting the destruction of the environment. The first half of the mural depicts children displaying great sadness over the destruction and extinction of life, as the second half of the artwork depicts humanity coming together to rehabilitate and celebrate nature. Following reinstallation, new protective barriers will also be installed. Tanguma’s other mural, Children of the World Dream of Peace, is expected to return to the Great Hall in early 2028.
America, Why I Love Her by Gary Sweeney, which pays homage to the artist’s family vacations and the beauty and grandeur of the land, as well as the monuments and roadside attractions that dot the American landscape, has returned to Level 5, Northeast. This work has been fully restored while in storage in collaboration with the artist.
The mural La Memoria de Nuestra Tierra (Our Land Has Memory) by Judith Baca, which explores the concept that the land we live on records the stories of the people who have inhabited it, has returned to Level 5, Northeast (by International Arrivals). The mural, which was commissioned in partnership with The Chicano Humanities and Arts Council (CHAC) as part of the Denver’s Cultural Perspectives Project, explores the story of the migration during the 1910-1917 Mexican Revolution that brought the artist’s family, along with many others, through El Paso and up to Colorado for work on the railroads and in the mines. This work has been fully restored while in storage in collaboration with the artist.
Mile High and Rising by Marcus Akinlana, a mural that depicts the spirit of adventure, optimism and triumph that African Americans brought to Colorado and the Old West, has returned to Level 5, Northwest (by International Arrivals). The mural was commissioned in partnership with ULOZI, a collective of African American artists, arts educators and administrators as part of the City’s Cultural Perspectives Project. Following installation, the mural will be fully restored by the artist. Restoration will be completed by October.
Other remaining artworks including Spirit of the People: A Native American Exhibition and Tribute to Elrey Jeppesen sculpture will be returned later this fall.
The Great Hall Project construction is expected to be completed in late 2027.
About DEN’s Art Program: The mission of DEN Arts is to engage, educate and entertain the public audience. Both the public artworks and rotating exhibitions aim to connect a local and global audience to the environment and culture of the vibrant City of Denver and the unique State of Colorado.