CU Denver is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Emmanuel Art Gallery, one of Denver’s oldest buildings, with a new exhibition titled "Come Together: 150 Years of the Emmanuel" opening June 18. Curated by Gallery Coordinator Andrew Palamara with input from former Gallery Director Jeff Lambson and current Gallery Director Sarah Watson, the show features artists connected to the gallery’s past and present, including CU Denver alum Isabella Briganti, former instructor Carlos Frésquez, and local artist Max Kauffman. The Gothic Revival building, built in 1876, has served as a place of worship, an artist’s studio, and a nationally recognized gallery on the Auraria Campus.
The exhibition matters because it reframes a milestone anniversary as a forward-looking bridge between the building’s historic role and its ongoing function as a cultural gathering place for students, faculty, and the broader Denver arts community. By highlighting the gallery’s evolution and commitment to student-centered curation, the show underscores the Emmanuel’s enduring relevance as a landmark that predates Colorado statehood and continues to shape local artistic identity.