Arts & Humanities
HUGH A. GRANT
Hugh A. Grant has been a driving force in the arts for over 30 years. He established the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art in 2003 to preserve the work and collections of Denver artist Vance Kirkland. Kirkland (1904-1981) painted in Denver for 53 years, creating watercolors, abstract oil and water mixtures, and the vibrant “Dot Paintings” for which he is best known.
As the Museum’s founder, director and curator, Hugh saved and added to the historic Kirkland studio building, created a showcase for Colorado art, and expanded Kirkland’s modernist decorative art collection. He facilitated international exchange by taking Kirkland’s art to thirteen European museums. In its brief history, the Museum has evolved into one of the country’s top displays of 20th century, international decorative arts and a significant repository of Colorado arts from 1875 to the present. Grant has written articles about art for numerous books, magazines, catalogs and brochures.
His love of the arts extends beyond the Kirkland Museum. In 2004, he collaborated with Colorado Ballet to present Dreamspace (originally titled The Artist and The Muse), a theatrical ballet based on the life of Vance Kirkland. In 2000, he won the Heartland Emmy Award for Best Entertainment Program for his role as producer of The Artist and the Muse, when the ballet was aired on PBS stations.
An avid patron of the arts, Hugh supports a broad range of cultural and civic organizations. He has served on the board of Opera Colorado for 19 years and serves as treasurer of the East 13th Avenue Maintenance District, the neighborhood where the Kirkland Museum is located.
Hugh’s work has been recognized by numerous prestigious awards, including the 2000 Historic Denver Ann Love Award for Historic Preservation, the 2000 AFKEY Award from Denver Art Museum Alliance for Contemporary Art, and the 1999 Denver Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts.
He is married to Merle Chambers, President and CEO of Leith Ventures and Chambers Family Fund. Together, they have contributed their time and resources to establish Denver as a world-class destination for decorative and fine arts.
Grant received an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Denver (2003) and a B.A. from Colorado State University (1968).