No, the Denver Art Museum (DAM) isn’t turning into a zoo later this year. Nevertheless, the presence of wildlife will be palpable at Frederic C. Hamilton Building come September with the debut of Stampede: Animals in Art. The huge 20,000-square foot exhibit will take over floors three and four of the DAM in order to showcase the “cross-cultural role of animals depicted in visual art.” More than 300 works will be on display for the new exhibit and will come from every collection across nine curatorial departments.

Deborah Butterfield, Argus, 1996-97, cast bronze, painted and patinated. Photo courtesy of the Denver Botanic Gardens.

Stampede will reveal commonalities in the DAM’s encyclopedic permanent collection and provide visitors a totally new experience,” said Christoph Heinrich, Frederick and Jan Mayer Director at the DAM. “Our museum is a leader in developing comprehensive, cross-departmental exhibitions and we are thrilled to explore this approach through a new lens and on a grand scale.”

The works include a diverse showcase of artists and their works including a Nick Cave Soundsuit, four-faced Hamat’sa Mask, Deborah Butterfield’s horse sculptures, paintings by Frederic Remington and Georgia O’Keeffe.

The exhibit will open in two waves with level three opening September 10, 2017, and fully opening by December 3, 2017 on level four. The exhibit will remain until spring 2019. Currently, exhibits Mi Tierra and Abstract Expressionism are on display on those floors.