Clyfford Still Museum, Denver, CO

I visited the Clyfford Still Museum today in Denver, Colorado. I didn't know much about this influential Abstract Expressionist, probably because he retained 94% of his paintings in his personal collection. He was critical of the commercial art world, and felt it was important to view an artist's work as a complete whole. At his death in 1980, his will stipulated that his paintings should be given to an American city that would promise to build a museum to house them. After many years Denver was chosen, and the Clyfford Still Museum opened in 2011.

The building, designed by Brad Cloepfil of Allied Works Architecture sits next to Daniel Libeskind's addition to the Denver Art Museum. It is subdued and minimal from the outside, but inside the unfinished concrete and day lit galleries are a perfect backdrop for Still's work.

It turns out Stills was right - seeing his paintings together provides a unique insight into his development and progression as an artist. The paintings are arranged chronologically to depict his transition into complete abstractionism, but it's also interesting to note the forms, elements and techniques that consistently remain in his work throughout. I definitely recommend a visit if you ever find yourself in Denver.

"I never wanted color to be color. I never wanted texture to be texture, or images to become shapes. I wanted them all to fuse together into a living spirit." -Clyfford Still