Museum of Contemporary Art Denver
4.3(2.1K)google
3.6(201)yelp
Contemporary ArtEducationalIndoorScenic Lookout
Overview
Housed in a striking, eco-friendly building designed by the world-renowned architect David Adjaye, the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver serves as an adventurous, boundary-pushing platform for modern creativity. The museum purposefully chooses not to maintain a permanent collection, allowing its gallery spaces to constantly evolve with provocative, temporary exhibitions from visionary international artists. After exploring the thought-provoking multimedia installations, visitors can relax at the beautiful rooftop cafe, enjoying refreshing local beverages and stunning panoramic vistas of the surrounding city.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration1.5-2 hours
Best TimeLate afternoons on Fridays or Saturdays during summer and autumn are highly recommended. After exploring the avant-garde contemporary art galleries, head up to the MCA Rooftop Cafe to enjoy craft beers and panoramic LoDo views during a spectacular Colorado sunset.
Getting ThereLocated at 1485 Delgany St. Superbly connected, it is just 2 blocks from Union Station, requiring a short 5-minute walk. Drivers can utilize metered street parking directly in front or the adjacent paid parking garages.
Travel Tips
- The museum is permanently closed every Monday. While walk-up general tickets are available, booking timed-entry spaces online is highly advised. The rooftop Cafe & Bar is high-demand on Friday evenings; book these specific twilight slots at least a week ahead.
- As a non-collecting institution, all installations are fully rotational. During seasonal changeovers, entire gallery floors will be completely shuttered to the public while admission pricing remains active. Check the official site's active exhibit alerts before paying.
- To safeguard sensitive contemporary media, all backpacks and parcels wider than 11x15 inches must be stored in the main floor self-service electronic lockers. No liquids, open coffee, or drinks are permitted inside upper gallery zones; tripods are fully banned.
Reviews
Positive
- Exhibits are highly avant-garde and experimental, updating frequently to ensure a fresh experience.
- The rooftop cafe and bar is fantastic, offering great city views while enjoying a drink.
- Ticket prices are very student and youth-friendly, with discounts or free entry on select days.
- The building features sleek modern lines with bright, open interiors, providing a comfortable visit.
Heads up
- Some contemporary art pieces are overly obscure, lacking enough textual explanation for casual visitors.
- The museum lacks its own parking; being near Union Station, nearby commercial parking is very pricey.
- Limited overall space with few galleries, unable to match the scale of large national modern art museums.
- The elevator operates slowly, occasionally leading to long waits between floors during peak weekend hours.