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At the Denver Art Museum on April 20, Gary Simmons will discuss nearly 40 years of work in a one-hour conversation with curator Rory Padeken.
All times are local to the venue · America/Denver
A chalk image rubbed across a blackboard may fade without disappearing entirely. Gary Simmons makes that leftover trace part of his subject, using smudged words and pictures drawn from popular culture to consider the persistence of racial stereotypes, class and racial violence—and the possibility of making room for other memories.
Simmons’s use of erasure links a physical action to a longer history. He draws with chalk on blackboard surfaces, then rubs and blurs the imagery. What remains gives the act of wiping away a second meaning: racial pain and stereotypes can persist even when someone tries to erase them. The museum describes a practice concerned with race, class and histories of violence, while also opening space for other experiences and futures.
That idea extends beyond the blackboard. Simmons works in painting, sculpture, sound and architectural environments, so the conversation’s career-wide scope offers a way to consider how the same concerns move across different forms.
Further reading: Logan Lecture: Gary Simmons | Denver Art Museum ↗
Three works identified by the museum show the range of materials in Simmons’s practice: boom (1996/2003) uses chalk on a painted blackboard panel; Song Remains the Same (2024) is oil paint on canvas; and Edge of Nowhere (2025) combines latex paint, coffee and pastel on a wall. They offer context for the artist’s range, not a promise that these works will be on view or discussed at the lecture.
Born in New York in 1964, Simmons earned a BFA from the School of Visual Arts in 1988 and an MFA from the California Institute of the Arts in 1990. His listed honors include the Aspen Award for Art, a USA Gund Fellowship and the Joyce Alexander Wein Artist Prize; he was appointed a National Academician by the National Academy of Design in 2021. In 2023, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago organized the first comprehensive survey of his work, which traveled to Pérez Art Museum Miami. Those milestones place the evening’s broad time span in context without reducing it to one period or medium.
Further reading: Logan Lecture: Gary Simmons | Denver Art Museum ↗ · Logan Lecture: Gary Simmons | Denver Art Museum ↗
The program pairs Simmons with Rory Padeken, the Denver Art Museum’s Vicki and Kent Logan Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art. Their announced subject is Simmons’s nearly 40-year artistic career; the event is billed as a conversation rather than an exhibition tour or hands-on activity.
The lecture is part of the 2026–27 Logan Lecture Series. Since 2007, the series has presented talks by more than 140 contemporary artists and has been organized by the museum’s Modern and Contemporary Art department, with support from Vicki and Kent Logan.
Further reading: Logan Lecture: Gary Simmons | Denver Art Museum ↗ · Logan Lecture Series | Denver Art Museum Programs ↗
The announced program is one conversation between Gary Simmons and Rory Padeken, the museum’s Vicki and Kent Logan Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, about Simmons’s nearly 40-year career.
The conversation is scheduled for 6–7 pm.
The auditorium is on the Hamilton Building’s lower level at the Denver Art Museum, 100 W 14th Ave. Pkwy., Denver, CO 80204.
Logan Lecture: Gary Simmons | Denver Art Museum ↗ · Plan Your Visit | Denver Art Museum ↗
The museum lists a discount for members and free admission for Museum Friends, CultureHaus and students with valid ID. The regular ticket price is not stated in the event information.
The event listing does not clarify whether the lecture ticket includes general museum admission. Check the ticket details if you are also planning to visit the galleries.
Logan Lecture: Gary Simmons | Denver Art Museum ↗ · Logan Lecture Series | Denver Art Museum Programs ↗ · Plan Your Visit | Denver Art Museum ↗
The museum says it can be reached by RTD and light rail. From downtown, take the Free MallRide to Cleveland Place, then walk south through Civic Center Park.
Directions and Parking | Denver Art Museum ↗ · Accessibility at Denver Art Museum | Parking, Mobility & More ↗
The museum’s driving directions route north and east approaches from I-25 via Speer Boulevard and 14th Avenue; from the south, take I-25 to the Lincoln-Broadway exit (207), then follow Lincoln to 12th Avenue; from the west, take I-70 to the US-6/West 6th Avenue exit (261), then continue via Lincoln and 12th Avenue.
Street and metered parking and several lots are within walking distance. The Cultural Center Complex Garage is at 12th Avenue and Broadway, is operated by Denver Public Works rather than the museum, and is listed as open 5 am–11 pm, with extended hours for special events. Garage event rates vary and are posted at the entrance. The museum advises allowing extra time for downtown construction and traffic.
Sharp Auditorium is on the Hamilton Building’s lower level; use that building as your destination rather than the Martin Building or The Kirkland. The museum says public areas are wheelchair accessible, main building entrances have power-assist doors and elevators are located throughout.
Accessible parking is available on the second level of the Cultural Center Complex Garage. Drop-off and pick-up are available on 13th Avenue between Broadway and Bannock streets. The museum offers free ASL interpretation and CART captioning for programs with at least five business days’ notice; request either by emailing [email protected]. Auditorium-specific seating and access details are not stated, so contact the museum if you need to confirm an arrangement.
Logan Lecture: Gary Simmons | Denver Art Museum ↗ · Plan Your Visit | Denver Art Museum ↗ · Directions and Parking | Denver Art Museum ↗ · Accessibility at Denver Art Museum | Parking, Mobility & More ↗
Bike racks are available on the museum plaza for bicycles and scooters; the museum advises bringing a secure bike lock.
Directions and Parking | Denver Art Museum ↗ · Accessibility at Denver Art Museum | Parking, Mobility & More ↗
Tuesday, April 20, 2027, from 6–7 pm at Sharp Auditorium, on the Hamilton Building’s lower level at the Denver Art Museum.
Museum Friends, CultureHaus and students with valid ID attend free; members receive a discount. The regular ticket price is not stated in the event information.
Logan Lecture: Gary Simmons | Denver Art Museum ↗ · Logan Lecture Series | Denver Art Museum Programs ↗
The museum lists RTD and light rail service. From downtown, the Free MallRide stops at Cleveland Place, followed by a walk south through Civic Center Park.
Directions and Parking | Denver Art Museum ↗ · Accessibility at Denver Art Museum | Parking, Mobility & More ↗
ASL interpretation and CART captioning are available free for museum programs with at least five business days’ notice. Contact the museum’s access team to request them.
Accessibility at Denver Art Museum | Parking, Mobility & More ↗
100 W 14th Ave. Pkwy., Denver, CO 80204
Map search by venue and address. Check the organiser’s entrance details before travelling.
Images from the linked sources. Each caption identifies the context of the image.
Event, planning and background information checked 2026-11-02 against the linked sources.