Over the next 18 months, the University of Denver (DU) is bringing a collection of seven sculptures to campus through a partnership with the Denver Art Museum. The sculptures will be featured in a new “Art Walk” that is coming to campus.

The pieces will be installed in phases, with the first phase beginning this spring. All seven sculptures are expected to be in place by summer 2027.

The partnership between the university and the museum makes quality art accessible to students and the broader DU community, while positioning campus as a cultural destination. Geoffrey Shamos, the director of DU’s Vicki Myhren Gallery and curator of the University Art Collections, said the project moves art “out of the museum and into daily life.”

Shamos hopes that this art will “position DU as a cultural destination while also deepening the role of art as part of everyday experience rather than a separate, specialized activity.” 

Instead of being in specific buildings on campus, the art will be featured along pathways to allow students to easily engage with the sculptures.

“Throughout this project, I’m hoping for balance between spontaneous encounters and more intentional forms of engagement, from a student passing a sculpture on the way to class to student-led and self-guided tours,” said Shamos. 

This gallery  is the result of close collaboration between DU and the Denver Art Museum. Shamos explains that both parties were considering “significance and the potential for meaningful engagement on a university campus.” 

In addition to size, material and conceptual range, the selection process also focused on how each piece would function in an open, outdoor environment and resonate with a diverse campus audience. 

Both the university and the museum hope the collection will encourage curiosity, interpretation and dialogue across disciplines. DU is currently developing a program to train students to give art tours and explain the significance of the sculptures.

Shamos hopes that this new art will open up opportunities for object-based learning “from art history and studio practice to engineering, environmental studies, and public policy.” According to Shamos, students will play an active role in taking care of the sculptures.

This creative collaboration won’t end with these sculptures. Shamos described the collection as a “foundation rather than an endpoint,” with hopes for more acquisitions, new commissions, digital tools and a nationally recognized university sculpture program.

These sculptures are meant to become a lasting part of DU’s campus, rather than just a temporary exhibition. The goal is that these pieces will help shape and strengthen the university’s culture over time.