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MEDIA CONTACTS: Hope Grandon, 720-913-0079
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Kristy Bassuener, 720-913-0115
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Images available upon request.
DAM to Showcase Fauvist Paintings from the National Gallery
Matisse and Friends features artists working in and around Paris
at the turn of the 20th century
(Denver, Colo.) – July 1, 2014 – The Denver Art Museum (DAM) will host the exhibition Matisse and Friends:
Selected Masterworks from the National Gallery of Art, October 12, 2014–February 8, 2015. Matisse and
Friends will showcase 14 paintings from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., by artists Henri
Matisse, André Derain, Albert Marquet, Maurice de Vlaminck, Raoul Dufy, Georges Braque and Kees Van
Dongen.
“Matisse and Friends is a perfect complement to the dazzle of Brilliant:
Cartier in the 20th Century on view upstairs,” said Christoph Heinrich,
Frederick and Jan Mayer Director of the Denver Art Museum. “The DAM
has created an in-gallery oasis for our visitors to bask in the visual
delight of these vibrant paintings.”
The artists featured in Matisse and Friends shocked the art world with
their raw approach and triggered a succession of innovative movements
in modern art. Working in and around Paris at the turn of the 20th
century, these artists were part of a creative community that sought to
redefine painting, favoring an expressive style that emphasized loose
brushwork and bold colors.
“The gallery setting draws inspiration from Matisse’s studio, employing
vibrant walls, colorful rugs and plush couches that encourage visitors to
sit back and savor the details, indulging in each painting’s vibrant palette,
vigorous brushstrokes and rich surface texture,” said Danielle Stephens,
master teacher for modern and contemporary art at the DAM.
Matisse and Friends will be on view in the Gallagher Family Gallery on
level one of the Hamilton Building and is included in museum admission.
Henri Matisse (French, 1869 – 1954), Open Window,
Collioure, 1905. Oil on canvas; overall: 55.3 x 46 cm
(21 3/4 x 18 1/8 in.), framed: 71.1 x 62.2 x 5.1 cm (28 x
24 1/2 x 2 in.). Collection of Mr. and Mrs. John Hay
Whitney, 1998.74.7. © 2014 Succession H. Matisse /
Artist Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Exhibition Organizers and Sponsors
Matisse and Friends is organized by the Denver Art Museum. It is supported by an indemnity from the
Federal Council on the Arts and Humanities. It is presented with the generous support of donors to the
Annual Fund Leadership Campaign and the citizens who support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities
District (SCFD). Promotional support is provided by 5280 Magazine, CBS4 and The Denver Post.
Special thanks to Shaver-Ramsey.
Media Resources
Online Newsroom: www.denverartmuseum.org/press
Exhibition Overview: www.denverartmuseum.org/exhibitions/matisse-and-friends
Facebook: www.facebook.com/denverartmuseum
Twitter: www.twitter.com/denverartmuseum
The Denver Art Museum is an educational, non-profit resource that sparks creative thinking and
expression through transformative experiences with art. Its holdings reflect the city and region—and
provide invaluable ways for the community to learn about cultures from around the world. Denver metro
citizens support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), a unique funding source serving
hundreds of metro Denver arts, culture and scientific organizations. For museum information, call 720865-5000 or visit www.denverartmuseum.org.
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