Art Gallery
The Art Gallery will be closed until November 2026 as we complete a renovation of the building air-conditioning and heating systems.
In the meantime, learn about previous exhibits going back to 1970 at the Previous Exhibits page.
David Ocelotl Garcia: Energy & Movement of Public Art
Exhibit Dates: November 6, 2026 - January 31, 2027
David Ocelotl Garcia: Energy & Movement of Public Art explores how art can preserve cultural memory, strengthen community connections, and transform public spaces.
Through photographs, molds, maquettes, sketches, video documentation, and a recreated portion of Garcia's studio, visitors will explore the creative and technical processes behind major public artworks. Together, these exhibition elements reveal how Garcia uses art to honor history, foster connection, and create meaningful public spaces.
Working across painting, sculpture, murals, and architectural installations, Colorado artist David Ocelotl Garcia has developed a distinctive artistic approach he calls Abstract Imaginism, blending abstraction, imagination, cultural heritage, and personal experience. Abstract Imaginism combines the spontaneity of abstraction with the creative possibilities of imagination, allowing Garcia to explore energy, culture, and human connection through art. The exhibition examines how Garcia's Chicano heritage, Aztec cultural influences, and commitment to community engagement inform his public art practice.
The exhibition features the story of Hummingbird Warrior, one of Garcia's earliest murals. After the mural was painted over without permission, Garcia undertook the challenge of restoring the work, highlighting the importance of preserving community artwork and cultural memory.
Visitors will also discover People's Bridge of the Sun, an immersive public art environment integrated into a bridge linking Denver's Globeville and Elyria-Swansea neighborhoods with the National Western Center. Inspired by Indigenous philosophies and nature-based design, the project bridges past, present, and future while celebrating the relationships between people, place, and community. The installation reflects Garcia's vision of art as a means of bringing people, cultures, and the environment together, with community-contributed sculptural elements integrated into the larger work.
The exhibition also explores the creation of Land of the Free – A Tribute to the American Bison, a monumental public sculpture commissioned for the Kansas State Capitol complex. Celebrating the cultural, historical, and ecological significance of the American bison, the project reflects Garcia's interest in connecting community, nature, history, and the future through art.
The exhibition is on display at the Littleton Museum from November 6, 2026 through January 21, 2027.
Exhibit Events
Opening Reception
Thursday, November 5, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. at the Littleton Museum.
No RSVP required. All ages welcome. Light refreshments served. Ample parking available in lot.