What was intended as a visual narrative exploring the impact of environmental destruction has drawn a whole wealth of conspiracy theories over the past decades.
In Peace and Harmony with Nature by muralist Leo Tanguma debuted when Denver International Airport opened in 1995. The first half of the mural illustrates children displaying great sadness over the destruction and extinction of life, while the second depicts humanity coming together to rehabilitate and celebrate nature.
While that narrative arc has always been a part of the murals, some viewers have taken away a different message, ones that have sparked untold conspiracy theories.
Along with Tanguma’s other works at DEN, the darker portions of the artist’s visual narrative have helped spark conspiracy theories over the past 30 years. Specifically, In Peace and Harmony with Nature illustrates problems before it presents solutions – it shows the consequences of unchecked strain on the environment in a stark way (forest fires, extinctions, etc.)
Along with some of the imagery in another one of Tanguma’s celebrated DEN murals, Children of the World Dream of Peace, these elements have drawn untold conspiracy theories over the years, including theories about new world orders, totalitarian regimes and end-of-world secret messages.
While none of that is true, Tanguma’s work has certainly sparked conversation, engagement and curiosity for decades. That dialogue halted temporarily when In Peace and Harmony with Nature temporarily went into storage to accommodate construction in the Great Hall. In August, 2026, visitors to DEN had the chance to revive the debate, as the work returned to its rightful home on Level 5, Northwest, of the Great Hall.
“We’re thrilled to return these beloved artworks to the Great Hall,” DEN Interim CEO Dave LaPorte said regarding the return of the Tanguma murals, as well as other iconic DEN art pieces. “We know passengers will be excited to see these familiar murals and sculptures, which have been the source of so many conversations over the years. Having these reinstalled is also a sign that the Great Hall project is making progress and nearing completion (anticipated end of 2027).”
The return of the iconic work is a chance to consider the conspiracy theories with a huge grain of salt, and instead look into the artist’s true intentions in creating the piece. Tanguma’s work references the social realist murals of Mexico depicting the destruction of the environment. That message is now more pertinent than ever. Tanguma’s accompanying mural, Children of the World Dream of Peace, will also rejoin the terminal in the final stages of construction in 2027. To preserve and maintain the work, new protective barriers will be installed.
Tanguma’s evocative imagery and powerful motifs aren’t meant to be secret symbols to signal the end of the world. Instead, they represent a warning about the dangers of environmental destruction, and proposed solutions about how to balance our relationship with the earth.
Sure, the conspiracies can be fun, but Leo Tanguma’s real message is one that’s much more complex, nuanced and, in the final analysis, hopeful.