In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary and Colorado’s 150th anniversary in 2026, the Colorado Governor’s Art Show & Sale will introduce a special, one-time honor as part of its 35th annual exhibition: the 250/150/35 Governor’s Legacy Art Award.
Presented personally by Colorado Governor Jared Polis during the show’s opening night gala from 5-8 p.m. Friday, April 24, at the Loveland Museum, the award recognizes a participating artist whose work powerfully reflects Colorado’s shared past, present and future. The award highlights artwork that honors the state’s land, people and cultural identity while encouraging reflection on Colorado’s evolving story.
“Art, whether drawn, painted, written or listened to, is part of Colorado’s 150-year history, telling the stories of our communities, people and culture. This year, at the annual Governor’s Art Show, the Governor’s Legacy Art Award will recognize an artist who successfully captures our 150-year history in Colorado, while inspiring us to dream of what our next 150 years may bring. I look forward to seeing how artists bring the spirit of Colorado to life in their work,” Polis says.
The 35th Annual Governor’s Art Show & Sale, one of the largest juried fine art shows exclusively featuring Colorado artists, will run Saturday, April 25, through Saturday, June 6, at the Loveland Museum. The exhibition will showcase 65 of Colorado’s top fine artists working across sculpture, mixed media, oil, pastel, watercolor and acrylic, with both in-person and online sales available throughout the run of the show.
“Art has the power to tell the story of who we are as a state,” says Ruth Scott, director of the Governor’s Art Show & Sale. “As we celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Governor’s Art Show & Sale alongside Colorado’s 150th anniversary and America’s 250th, the Governor’s Legacy Art Award recognizes an artist whose work captures the spirit, history and evolving identity of Colorado while highlighting the important role the arts play in preserving and sharing our collective story.”
The selected artwork will demonstrate artistic excellence and a meaningful connection to Colorado’s history, heritage and sense of place. The award reflects the goals of the America 250 Colorado 150 initiative, which encourages storytelling and reflection on the state’s past while looking toward its future.
The 250/150/35 Governor’s Legacy Art Award will be presented during the opening night gala, which offers attendees the first opportunity to view the exhibition, purchase artwork and meet the artists juried for the show. The award-winning piece will remain on display throughout the run of the show and will be available for purchase along with all exhibited works.
Presented by the Loveland and Thompson Valley Rotary Clubs in conjunction with the Loveland Museum and endorsed by the Governor of Colorado, the Governor’s Art Show & Sale is one of the largest juried fine art exhibitions to exclusively feature Colorado artists. The show is truly Art with Heart, with 100 percent of the net show proceeds supporting community nonprofit programs through the Loveland and Thompson Valley Rotary Clubs.
Tickets for the Opening Night Gala are $100 and available for purchase on the show’s website.
Visitors can experience the exhibition in person at the Loveland Museum, located at 503 N. Lincoln Ave., or online at governorsartshow.org. Museum hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays. The museum is closed Sundays and Mondays. Exhibit admission is $7 for Loveland residents, $10 for non-residents and free for visitors 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased at the door.
