We Still Preserve a Legacy

The Clyfford Still Museum holds one of the most extraordinary artistic legacies in the world: more than 3,100 works representing over 93 percent of Clyfford Still’s lifetime output. The collection includes approximately 830 paintings, 2,300 works on paper, and a handful of sculptures, forming an unparalleled record of an artist’s creative evolution.

Still’s decision in 1951 to withdraw from the commercial art world was radical. He believed his work should be experienced as a unified whole, free from comparison or market influence, and entrusted it to an American city willing to protect that vision. Denver became that city. Today, the collection belongs to the people of Denver, held in public trust for future generations.

This one-of-a-kind civic treasure requires ongoing care. Many of Still’s paintings were rolled before the paint had fully dried, resulting in distinctive conservation challenges such as surface texture changes, discoloration, and the natural aging of materials. The Museum’s conservation team works with precision and respect to preserve these works, ensuring they remain vibrant, stable, and true to the artist’s intent.

Your gift this Colorado Gives Day directly supports this essential work. Contributions help stabilize fragile paint layers, clean delicate surfaces, and fund the tools and expertise needed to safeguard the collection.

By giving today, you are helping to protect a cultural resource that belongs to Denver and strengthens Colorado’s creative capital. Together, we can ensure that Clyfford Still’s art continues to inspire and endure—preserved with care, for everyone, for all time.