Denver's River North Art District, better known as RiNo, has transformed from an industrial warehouse district into one of the city's most vibrant creative neighborhoods!

Located just north of downtown Denver, RiNo is home to a remarkable concentration of art galleries, studios and creative businesses that have earned it the motto "Where Art Is Made." Whether you're a serious art collector, a casual gallery visitor or someone looking to explore the creative scene near our apartments in RiNo, Denver, the neighborhood's diverse gallery landscape offers something for everyone.

The district, officially certified as a creative district by the state in 2014, includes everything from intimate ceramic galleries to experimental artist-run spaces and nonprofit art centers to contemporary galleries featuring international artists. What makes RiNo particularly special is its mix of established institutions and emerging spaces, all within walking distance of each other along the main arteries of Larimer, Walnut and Blake streets.

Here are some of our favorite galleries in and around RiNo!

Galleries & studios in Denver’s River North neighborhood

Major gallery destinations

Plinth Gallery

Located near the RiNo Art Park, the Plinth Gallery stands as one of the district's most distinctive art spaces. Founded in 2006 by noted ceramic artist Jonathan Kaplan, this intimate venue specializes exclusively in contemporary ceramic art. The gallery itself is an architectural landmark — a former two-story warehouse that underwent a four-year renovation to become a live-work space that earned a Denver Mayor's Design Award.

Plinth Gallery showcases both sculptural and functional ceramic pieces from emerging and established artists, both national and international, while maintaining a carefully curated collection and rotating exhibitions monthly, with the exception of their June/July and August/September shows which run for two months. Beyond exhibitions, Plinth plays an important educational role in the community by offering workshops with visiting ceramic artists and coordinating outreach programs with local schools and community colleges.

The gallery is open Thursday through Saturday from noon to 5pm with additional hours by appointment, and admission is free with street parking available. Planning your visit during First Friday events provides the best opportunity to see the space alongside other RiNo galleries, as during these monthly celebrations, Plinth Gallery hosts opening receptions that allow visitors to meet artists and engage with the ceramic arts community.

fooLPRoof contemporary art

Located toward the upper end of Larimer Street, fooLPRoof contemporary art offers a different perspective on contemporary art with its focus on sculpture and installation work. Founded and curated by artist Laura Phelps Rogers, this gallery has established itself as a destination for those interested in art that explores materials and creative processes.

What sets fooLPRoof apart is its diverse roster of artists spanning all skill levels. From artists in the permanent collections of the Denver Art Museum and Kirkland Museum to emerging talents just beginning their careers, representing local, regional, national and international artists to create a global perspective within RiNo's creative community.

The space is owned by a public art design and fabrication company, which means they can handle projects of any scale from small gallery pieces to large installations, and since 2018, the gallery has created over 60 events around art, making it one of the more active spaces in the district! First Fridays at fooLPRoof are particularly lively, described as "always a party," while Second Fridays offer a quieter time to view work.

Operating hours vary throughout the week: Monday and Tuesday 11am to 3pm, Thursday 2pm to 6pm, Friday 1pm to 4pm and 6pm to 9pm, and Saturday 2pm to 6pm, with additional times available by appointment. Like most RiNo galleries, admission is free with street parking available nearby.

RULE Gallery

RULE Gallery represents one of the most interesting evolutions in RiNo's gallery scene, as this institution founded in 1991 recently made a bold move after their Santa Fe Drive location changed ownership in 2024. Rather than simply relocating to another traditional gallery space, RULE has embraced a nomadic model, maintaining a showroom and office near our RiNo apartments on Brighton Boulevard while producing site-specific, time-based art experiences across the Denver area. Their other venue operates in the ultra-artsy town of Marfa, Texas!

This innovative approach allows RULE to continue representing their roster of emerging and mid-career contemporary artists and artist estates while breaking free from the constraints of a traditional white-cube gallery. The gallery occasionally hosts exhibitions and events at their Fabrica RiNo office space, which is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11am to 5pm, and RULE also maintains a second location in Marfa, Texas, where they continue more traditional gallery operations.

Visions West Contemporary

Visions West Contemporary brings a unique focus to RiNo's gallery scene with its emphasis on contemporary art connected to nature, environmental themes and the American West. Whether it’s a coincidence that the gallery is directly across from the Patagonia store, we’ll never know! After spending ten years in Denver's LoDo neighborhood, the gallery relocated to RiNo to be part of the district's creative energy, just a short walk from our luxury RiNo apartments.

The gallery features a diverse range of work including painting, sculpture, photography and mixed media from both emerging and established artists, while maintaining a connection to Western themes presented through a contemporary, non-traditional lens. Their focus on nature and animals sets them apart from other galleries in the district, though they avoid traditional wildlife art in favor of more conceptual approaches.

With an international roster of artists alongside local Denver talents, the gallery offers consulting services for collectors and institutions and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:30am to 5:30pm, providing a professionally curated experience for those interested in contemporary art with environmental and Western themes. 

Nonprofit and community spaces

Alto Gallery

Tucked into the heart of RiNo ArtPark, Alto Gallery operates under a different model than most commercial galleries as it's owned and operated by Birdseed Collective, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Alto opened in February 2016 and has become known for its dynamic exhibitions supporting both emerging and established artists.

The gallery showcases a diverse array of artworks from traditional paintings to experimental installations, with particular strength in street art and Chicanx and Indigenous expressions. Being part of RiNo ArtPark alongside RedLine's satellite studios means Alto offers more than just a typical gallery experience, as it's integrated into a larger creative campus that includes educational programs and community events.

Open Tuesday through Saturday from 11am to 3pm and by appointment, Alto maintains free admission and benefits from dedicated parking at RiNo ArtPark, while participating in the ArtPark Menagerie Series and other community programming throughout the year.

RedLine Contemporary Art Center

RedLine Contemporary Art Center serves as both a gallery and an incubator for emerging artists, featuring 12-15 curated exhibitions per year in its main exhibition hall while also housing 18 resident artist studios through a competitive two-year residency program that provides free studio space to Colorado artists.

The center's mission extends beyond exhibitions to fostering education and engagement between artists and communities, offering extensive community programming and educational initiatives and partnering with the RiNo Art District and Alto Gallery to launch the Satellite Studio ArtPark program in 2019.

Open Tuesday through Sunday from 11am to 5pm, RedLine operates on a suggested donation model - free for members and a $5 suggested donation for non-members, with limited private parking including one handicap accessible space and free street parking readily available. The center hosts numerous events including the "High Walls" Exhibition and Summit, First Friday openings and various educational programs throughout the year.

Artist-run and experimental spaces

Dateline Gallery

Dateline Gallery represents the experimental edge of RiNo's gallery scene, founded in 2014 by artists Jeromie Dorrance and Adam Milner. This project space operates out of what is essentially their living space, creating an intimate and unconventional gallery experience that’s unlike any other.

The gallery's mission is to provide an alternative exhibition space for emerging artists who work with experimental or marginal approaches to their practice, featuring exhibitions from national and international artists alongside a rotating roster of guest curators while maintaining a deliberately casual, non-commercial atmosphere that sets it apart from more traditional galleries.

Open most Saturdays from noon to 5pm and by appointment, Dateline keeps irregular hours that add to its underground appeal, hosting opening receptions and occasionally presenting pop-up digital art shows affiliated with international biennials to maintain connections to the global experimental art scene while staying rooted in Denver's creative community.

Studio buildings and creative hubs

Walnut Workshop

Walnut Workshop exemplifies RiNo's industrial-to-creative transformation, as this converted warehouse houses a diverse group of creative entrepreneurs including visual artists, video production companies, photographers, jewelers and even custom bike builders.

The space maintains the authentic industrial character that defines RiNo while providing professional studio spaces for its residents, and during First Friday events, studios open to the public from 6pm to 9pm, offering visitors the chance to engage directly with artists and see works in progress. The diversity of businesses here, including the RiNoVELO bicycle shop, creates an eclectic atmosphere that goes beyond traditional gallery experiences.

Globeville Riverfront Art Center (GRACe)

While technically located in nearby Globeville across the river, GRACe serves as an important extension of RiNo's creative community. Established in 2016, this center houses over 75 visual artists working in painting, fiber arts, photography, ceramics, mixed media, printmaking, jewelry and illustration, along with creative businesses like florists, fashion designers and landscape architects.

GRACe features a 1,500-square-foot gallery space showcasing works by resident and guest artists, and as one of the largest artist studio complexes in the area, it provides crucial affordable space for artists displaced by rising rents elsewhere. The center hosts First Friday openings, special exhibitions and the annual Out There Art Fest, maintaining strong connections to the broader Denver arts community.

Additional gallery spaces

The Temple

Once home to Temple Emanuel in the late 19th century, this renovated temple represents a social venture aimed at preserving an important landmark while also providing affordable art studios and workshop facilities! This creative community hub houses multiple artists in affordable studio spaces, addressing the ongoing challenge of rising rents that affect artists throughout Denver.

Open by appointment and during First Friday events, The Temple hosts group exhibitions and provides crucial infrastructure for emerging and established local artists who might otherwise be priced out of the district.

Rainy Days Gallery

Rainy Days Gallery brings a fresh perspective to RiNo with its dedication to showcasing bold, thought-provoking works from both emerging and established artists. The gallery celebrates creativity in all forms from street art to fine painting, maintaining a diverse lineup of both local and visiting artists.

What makes Rainy Days unique is its extended hours and additional programming, as the gallery hosts Thursday evening yoga sessions in the gallery space and stays open until 10:30pm on Friday and Saturday nights. With four reserved parking spots on the north side of the building and a regular schedule (Wednesday-Thursday noon to 6pm, Friday-Saturday noon to 10:30pm, Sunday noon to 6pm, and Monday-Tuesday by appointment), it's one of the more accessible galleries in the district!

Getting the most from RiNo's gallery scene

The best way to experience RiNo's galleries is during the First Friday Art Walk, held from 6pm to 9pm on the first Friday of each month, when over 50 studios and galleries open their doors to the public, local vendors showcase new works and restaurants offer special menus. The atmosphere is festive but not overwhelming, with galleries providing complimentary refreshments and opportunities to meet artists.

Beyond First Fridays, each gallery maintains its own schedule and character, with some like Visions West and Plinth keeping regular business hours suitable for weekday visits, while others like Dateline and the studio buildings are best experienced during events or by appointment. The district is easily walkable with most galleries concentrated along Larimer, Walnut and Blake streets, making it possible to visit multiple spaces in a single afternoon.

RiNo's gallery scene reflects the district's evolution from industrial area to creative hub while maintaining an authenticity that sets it apart from more established art districts. 

Whether you're interested in contemporary ceramics, experimental installations, Western-themed art or community-engaged practices, RiNo's galleries offer diverse entry points into Denver's thriving arts scene. The combination of established galleries, nonprofit spaces, artist-run venues and studio buildings creates a dynamic ecosystem where art is not just displayed but actively made, discussed and celebrated as part of daily life in the neighborhood.

If you live anywhere near our Denver apartments — especially our RiNo Denver apartments — then be sure to check out these art galleries in the neighborhood. There’s always so much happening in RiNo, and you’re sure to see something new each time you go. 

Enjoy!

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