Close to downtown but oh so different in so many ways, Northwest Denver (some have started calling the entire area LoHi, for Lower Highlands) boasts of a particularly strong and exciting alternative arts scene. Established artists’ co-ops have been bringing the best in cutting-edge art to Denver for more than two decades. In culturally diverse and historic Denver neighborhoods such as The Highlands and Tennyson Street, the area is a mecca for artists and collectors alike. On the corner of 37th Avenue and Navajo Street, co-ops Edge Gallery, Next Gallery, Pirate Contemporary Art and Zip 37 open their doors each weekend (beginning at around 6pm every Friday) to display the works of some of the most talented and well-known artists in the region. The corner has been referred to as Denver’s “Original Bohemia.” Although some alternative galleries maintain only weekend hours, many participate in the First Fridays Art Walk. The monthly open houses on Navajo Street and in the Tennyson Street Cultural District are among Denver’s most lively monthly art events.

23rd Avenue Sculpture Studio & Gallery 3500 W. 23rd Ave., Denver 80211 Drop-ins and referrals please. • www.23rdave.com • Mon by appointment only, Tues-Sun 10am-6pm. Unique, modern, contemporary steel sculpture studio and gallery • Sculptor Dennis West’s North Denver studio is filled with contemporary indoor and outdoor steel sculpture. Featuring free-standing yard and garden art, commissioned and custom sculptural work, custom fine art steel furniture, commissioned wall panels, fountains and fine steel fence work. Walk-ins welcome.

Edge Gallery 3658 Navajo St. (corner of 37th Avenue & Navajo Street), Denver 80211 303-477-7173 • www.edgegallery.org • Fri 7pm-10pm, Sat & Sun 1pm-5pm or by appointment. Cutting-edge art in an artists’ cooperative • A progressive contemporary gallery featuring installation, painting, sculpture and photography by local, national and international artists. Political and performance art. Artists include: Susan Berkley, Mark Brasuell, Richard Cutshall, John Davenport, Jane Davis, Dan Donaldson, Tim Flynn, Susan Goldstein, Mark Guilbeau, Conor Hollis, Jennifer Hope, Deborah Howard, Rian Kerrane, Melinda Laz, Gayla Lemke, Joan MacDonald, J. Diane Martonis, Russell McKlayer, Sara-Lou Klein, Jerry McLaughlin, Harriet Moyer, Kathryn Oberdorfer, Ken Peterson and Dania Pettus.  

Lapis Gallery 3971 Tennyson St., Denver 80212 (Tennyson Street Art District) 303-480-5126 • www.lapisarts.com • Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 11am-3pm. Builders of custom hardwood furniture • Metal paintings, ceramics, sculpture, photography and usually the hippest Tennyson Street Cultural District crowd on First Fridays.

Next Gallery 3659 Navajo St., Denver 80211 (corner of 37th and Navajo streets) 303-433-4933 • www.nextgallery.us • Fri 6pm-10am, Sat noon-5pm, Sun noon-5pm. Contemporary fine art • Original artwork by emerging and mid-career regional artists in Denver’s oldest established arts district. Among the nearly 30 artists: Kim Albrecht, Alane Asimus, Alicia Bailey, Amber Bell, M. Beneventi, Jim Caldwell, Marlene Feinholz, Garvin Garvin, DJ Hamilton, Angela Hottinger, Meg Ingraham, Bonnie Johnson, Tony Kirchner, Jon Koenigsberg, Jessica Loving, Theresa Lugo, Sara-Lou Klein McKlayer, Jude Morales, Chris Nelson, Phyllis Rider, Trish Romero, Meagan Svendsen, Susan Vaho, VRBA, Greg Wasil, Jenny Wilson and Patricia Zilinski.

Pirate – Contemporary Art 3655 Navajo St. (corner of 37th & Navajo streets), Denver 80211 303-458-6058 • www.pirateart.org • Always Friday evenings 7pm-10pm, Sat & Sun noon-5pm. Artist-run cooperative featuring painting, sculpture and installation • The unconventional name reflects the gallery’s unconventional exhibits of challenging work by the co-op’s members. Founded in 1980, the alternative art space has set the example for those that followed. Artists represented include Stephen Alarid, Jason Appleton, Phil Bender, Michael Brohman, Bug, Terry Campbell, Matt Doubek, Marie Gibbons, Peter Illig, Laurel McMechan, Andy Miller, Luzia Ornelas, Keely Preston, Louis Recchia, Craig Robb and Debra Sanders. One of Denver’s first galleries – cooperative or otherwise – to mount significant contemporary art shows.

Zip 37 3644 Navajo St. (corner of 37th & Navajo streets), Denver 80211 303-477-4525 • www.zip37.com • Fri 7pm-10pm, Sat & Sun noon-5pm. One of the Denver art scene’s most respected gallery alternatives • Here in the heart of Denver’s Bohemia, some of Denver’s most recognized names gather and exhibit their work, both mainstream and alternative. Artists represented include Zoa Ace, Danyl Cook, Pat Cronin, Alix Evendorff, Leo Franco, Mark Friday, Katie Hoffman, Meg Ingraham, Katharine McGuinness, Jennifer Melton, Matt Palmer, Louis Recchia, Jean Smith, Robert St. John, Ray Tomasso and Tracy Weil.