Space Is the Place: Art & Design in the Atomic Age

Space Is the Place: Art & Design in the Atomic Age is on view at The Kirkland, inside the Denver Art Museum at 1201 Bannock Street, and it runs through February 21, 2027. It's one of two inaugural exhibitions at The Kirkland since it merged with the Denver Art Museum in 2024, so it's a good time to get a first look at the space.

The show takes you back to the mid-20th century, when artists and designers turned their gaze skyward and channeled the optimism, anxiety, and curiosity of the Atomic Age. It was a time when rapid technological advances and the thrill of space exploration were driving everything, and that energy showed up in the things people made. You'll see visionary forms from that era—sleek plastic furnishings and dynamic compositions—and a lot of it came from advances in plastic technology that opened up new possibilities for designers. The exhibition brings together about 51 objects, including furniture, accessories, painting, and sculpture.

There's a section dedicated to local artists, too, with work by Vance Kirkland, Angelo di Benedetto, and Beverly Rosen. If you're more of a guided experience person, a docent-led tour runs every Saturday at 1:30 PM, meeting in the lobby.

Admission is included with general admission, and it's free for members and for visitors 18 and under. With the show running through February 21, 2027, you've got plenty of time to fit it in.