At Work With…

Perhaps no space in Colorado better illustrates the marriage between architecture and art than the Daniel Libeskind-designed Hamilton Building at the Denver Art Museum. And no one knows this building, with its iconic angles and peaks, quite like Lewis Sharp does. As director of the Denver Art Museum, Sharp oversees the life of the museum, guiding every part of its long-term growth, including art acquisitions, education programs, fundraisers and building renovations.

Not surprisingly, Sharp is driven by his love of art and architecture, which becomes apparent the instant he starts talking about his work. “The permanent collection, the special exhibitions, this building—each contributes to a very dynamic program for visitors,” he says. Sharp's favorite part of the day, though, happens before a single visitor arrives, when he walks through the museum's silent rooms. “It's magic,” he says. “To have the museum quietly to myself, to have private time to engage the art. Magic.”

“The sculpture stands at the very end of the [Hamilton Building's] prow, so when you're looking at it, you're levitating over 13th Avenue, which works effectively for this piece. You get the dramatic light-play through the windows, so the piece is always changing.”

“Clyfford Still is probably the most important painter of the 20th century. We're lucky to have 14 of his works exhibited in the Martin & McCormick Gallery here, which is a true Libeskind-esque space. People are always surprised by how beautifully art can be hung here.”

“This piece has a special place in my heart and my life. I worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for 18 years, and we had a fine Remington collection. But this is unquestionably the finest single casting of ‘The Cheyenne' ever made.”