Explore Our Art Collection

Did you know Denver Botanic Gardens has an art collection? Home to over 1,300 unique art objects, the collection is full of hidden treasures, from historical botanical illustrations to contemporary pieces exploring natural themes. Visitors have the rare opportunity to see behind the scenes and experience our art collection first-hand during From the Vault tours. I chatted with Jensina Endresen, assistant manager of exhibitions, about our art collection and what makes it so special. 

KF: How do artworks end up in our collection?
JE: Some items are donated, and others are proposed by artists, but all go through a committee-led approval process before being officially entered into the collection. When selecting works for the collection, we think about how a piece contributes to the Gardens’ mission of connecting people with plants, as well as our ability to house and care for the object.

KF: What are some of the oldest works in our collection? Newest?
JE: Our oldest works are lithographs dating to the 1740s. The newest works were added to the collection this year from exhibiting artists and Join an upcoming From the Vault tour to experience treasures from our collection and learn more about how we preserve artwork for future generations.

This article was contributed by Curatorial Assistant Katie Foster.