DENVER - The Denver Art Museum (DAM) announces an engaging lineup of Colorado creatives, artists and collaborators for the museum’s Community Mural project and the 2025 season of Untitled: Artist Takeover events. The new year of Untitled programs will continue to highlight collaborators’ roles in developing these exciting quarterly celebrations of Colorado’s thriving creativity. 

The DAM Community Mural project, which was started in 2021 as part of the re-opening of the Lanny and Sharon Martin Building, was born out of a desire to deepen connections with the Denver-metro community and incorporate local artists’ contributions into the fabric of the museum. The Community Mural initiative welcomes local artists to submit proposals to create a mural that highlights connections within the Denver-metro community. The lead artist is selected based on their understanding of the DAM’s theme, their artistic choices, and how they will involve the local community. The full details of this next installment of Community Mural will be unveiled during the January Untitled event. 

“Here at the DAM, we’re always looking for new ways to invite the community into the museum. The Denver Art Museum is the community’s museum, and we want everyone to know that and always feel welcomed in the galleries and other spaces,” said Heather Nielsen, Chief Learning and Engagement Officer and Deputy Director of the DAM. “How the DAM works alongside artists is critical to the work we do to create a sense of belonging and welcome. Programs like Untitled welcome artists into the museum to take over the building and create unexpected artful encounters - so that everyone is an artist.” 

Untitled: Artist Takeover events connect the community with regional artists and creatives, offering immersive programming featuring performances, artmaking and one-of-a-kind experiences along with the opportunity for connecting and socializing. Each event is led by a duo of artists and selected collaborators, showcasing the artists’ perspectives and practices and providing a unique lens into the museum’s collections and exhibitions, activating the museum in participatory ways and providing exciting and inspiring ways to engage with art. 

“Community engagement is an important method for connecting people with artworks in an impactful and accessible way,” said Sarah Rockett, Manager of Creative and Public Engagement at the DAM. “Untitled offers visitors the ability to experience the talents of up-and-coming local artists and performers within the context of the Denver Art Museum galleries and spaces. This program is designed to provide a platform for these artists and create new experiences at the museum for visitors.”

Untitled: Artist Takeover 2025 kicks off Jan. 31, headlined by visual artist Sarah Darlene and performing artist Fox Drickey. Darlene’s work is a study on the boundaries between the physical and spiritual experiences of self. As a painter, she paints outside traditional practices, using a more mindfulness-based approach to various materials, including clothing, sand, and rope. Her overall creative process mixes body awareness, femininity, and queer identity, all guided by the yogic concept of Maya.

Drickey is a Denver-based musician formerly of Chimney Choir now focusing on a new musical project King Bee. They see their music as both theatrical and performance. This work is a study on the boundaries between the physical and spiritual experiences of self. 

All museum spaces and exhibitions are open during Untitled events, which is included in General Admission. Wild Things: The Art of Maurice Sendak requires an additional ticket purchase for entry.

Featured artists for the 2025 Untitled: Artist Takeover series are listed below. For the most up-to-date information and specific program details, visit denverartmuseum.org. 

JANUARY 31 | 6-10 p.m. 

Sarah Darlene - Visual artist, painter exploring expressive abstraction that is intertwined with intuitive meditation practices.

Fox Drickey - Singer, musical focus is both medicinal and theatrical. 

APRIL 25 | 6-10 p.m. 

Sarah Ortegon - Visual artist, painter and dancer who focuses on her own indigenous biography as inspiration.

Buffalo Barbie - an Indigenous two-spirit drag performer and LGBTQIA+ advocate. 

JULY 25 | 6-10 p.m. 

Wheelchair Sports Champ - A socially conscious hip-hop band fronted by Kalyn Heffernan, emphasizing rights for accessibility and LGBTQIA+ communities. Heffernan is also a playwright and visual artist with an installation at Meow Wolf Denver. 

OCTOBER 31 | 6-10 p.m. 

Kristina Maldonado Bad Hand - Sicangu Lakota and Cherokee, designer illustrator, educator and cosplayer.

Moe Gram - multidisciplinary visual artist, designer and public speaker. 

Untitled is included in general admission, which is free for museum members and everyone 18 and under thanks to the Free for Kids program. This does not include admission into Wild Things: The Art of Maurice Sendak or The Honest Eye: Camille Pissarro’s Impressionism. Museum audiences are encouraged to check the museum’s website and social media channels-including #UntitledDAM-to learn more.