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Daniel Luna at Museo De Las Americas

Daniel Luna at work, image from the Denver Post

The prolific Dan Luna, a local Denver artist, is the feature of a retrospective exhibit now showing at the Museo De Las Americas in the Santa Fe Arts district. Despite being burdened with a rare eye disease, this talented artist has managed to become a Denver fixture, known for his colorful, often humorous, paintings. His art adorns many local restaurants and coffee shops in the city, and hundreds of people’s personal collections.

In “Why Not…Retrospective of Dan Luna,” the Museo has managed to obtain and borrow works spanning Luna’s career. In an interview with the Denver Post, Maruca Salazar, the executive director of Museo De Las Americas describes the exhibit and the unique quality of Luna’s work:

“Danny has the power to transform the ordinary into extraordinary,” Salazar says during a recent walk through the Daniel Luna show. “Where else would you see a native woman roasting a watermelon, and that watermelon representing the power of the sun? …Only in Danny’s mind.”

“Where else would you see chickens crying over fried eggs? …Only in the mind of Daniel Luna.”

“And where else do you see a ‘thief of dreams,’ which is this little creature that comes out of your head and sneaks up on you and then takes your dreams away?”

” …Only in the mind of Danny Luna.”

(The rest of the article is worth reading, by the way, for some interesting reflections on Luna’s life and influences.)

The show runs until May 28, at 861 Santa Fe Drive. The Museo De Las Americas is open Tuesday through Friday 10am-5pm, and weekends from 12pm-5pm. There will be a conversation with Daniel Luna on April 19 from 4:30-6:30pm.