ABOUT

Cal Duran is a Queer, Two Spirit, Indigenous, Native, Mixed blood. Latinx, Manito, Mestizo, Chicanx, Indian Artist, and Arts Educator from Colorado. Art has been a portal to channel his indigenous ancestors, where he slips under an emotional spinning vortex of creation. The makers of his blood flow through him. He channels the artisans, craft-makers, mud-dwellers, star-makers, dream-weavers and earth-brothers and sisters the ones who paved the way and forged the path. His work carries spirit and his truth is in everything he creates. He has roots that bridge India, Mexico and the natives of this land. He finds himself exploring parallels between his hybrid identities found in myth, religion,and ritual.

He has shown altars, installations and artwork in museums and galleries throughout the Denver Metro area and beyond. He continues to honor his ancestors and recently created a room at Meow Wolf in Denver, honoring the indigenous tribes of Colorado and the Americas. He understands the importance of land acknowledgment honoring all the Earth tribes across the globe and the indigenous lineages down his blood line . Growing up separated from his culture, his mom was adopted and his father was not in his life, he grew up trying to figure out his cultural roots. Art was where he could connect and find his heritage. It was through art that he began to connect to his ancestors. He is guided by these ancestors to create altars as beacons of light for the ones beyond this realm.

As a youth educator, Cal understands how important art is for our next generation in creating safe spaces and helping youth find their voice. He is honored to weave a his vision of ancestral knowledge in order to guide others as they seek to reconnect to ancestors, create altars and remember where they came from. He gives gratitude and love to everyone working hard to create a world full of love, joy and creativity.

Cal Duran

2023

Spectra Art Space

Denver Art Museum : Teaching Artist

40 west Mural : Aviation Park

CHAC Gallery : Generations Show

Museo De Las Americas : Altar installation

Colorado Springs Fine Art Center: Altar installation

Denver Zoo: Altar installation

Colorado History Museum: Altar installation

Corky Gonzales Library : Altar installation

Denver Botanic Gardens: Communtiy ofrendas

Lafayette Collective: Altar installation

University Of Northern Colorado Galleries: Solo Show

CHAC Gallery : Altar installation

Pirate Art Gallery : Altar installation

Soccer City Aurora: Altar installation

Dairy Arts Center: Teaching Artist

Arapahoe County State Fair judge

Art Student League of Denver : Resident/outreach teacher

BRDG gallery: The wild hunt show

2022

Denver Art Museum, Untitled Artist
Colorado Springs Fine Art center, Altar installation
Colorado State Fair- Judge
Colorado History Museum, Corn Mother’s Project, Denver CO.
Denver Botanical Gardens, Dia de Los Muertos Altar installation
Corky Gonzalez Library, Dia de Los Muertos Altar installation
Old Masonic Hall, Breck Create, Dia de Los Muertos Altar installation
Museo De Las Americas, Dia de Los Muertos Altar installation
MSU Denver, Storytelling sculptures
Birdseed Collective, Mural

2021
Chicano Humanities for the Arts Council, Dia de Los Muertos
Colorado History Museum, Altar installation
Museo De Las Americas, Altar installation
Corky Gonzalez Library, Altar installation, Denver CO.
Denver Botanical Gardens, Altar installation
Meow Wolf Denver, Permanent room installation
Boulder Art Museum, Endangered species coalition installation
Colfax Canvas, Mural
Converge Gallery,

BRDG Gallery, Curator
Museo De Las Americas, Group show
Breck Create, Altar installation, Breckenridge CO.
Ila Gallery, Altar installation

2020
Firehouse Art Center, Dia de Los Muertos, , Longmont, CO.
Street Wise, Mural on Pearl Street, Boulder, CO.
Meow Wolf, Permanent room installation, Denver, CO.
Scholastic art and writing awards - Juror
Colorado History Museum, Dia de Los Muertos

2019
Denver Art Museum, Studio artist
Denver Art Museum, Dia de Los Muertos altar
Dairy Art Center, Dia de Los Muertos altar, Boulder, CO
Museo De Las Americas, Dia De Los Muertos , Frida Kahlo exhibition

2018

Día De los Muertos Altar Installation, Museo de las Americas, Denver, CO.

Día de los Muertos Altar, Pirate Art Gallery, Denver, CO.

Window Installation, Recreative Denver, Denver, CO.

Unearthed, Westwood Creative Arts District, Denver, CO.

Diorama Activation Space Installation, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Denver, CO.

Large Scale Giraffe Installation, The Fusion Factory, Denver CO.

Studio Artist, Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO.

Mask and Altar Installation, Art Gym, Denver, CO.

Meow Wolf Booth, Colorado Black Arts Festival, Denver, CO.
Masks, Rhino Art Made Store, Denver, CO.

Frida Kahlo Sculpture, Westwood Creative Arts District, Denver, CO.

2017

Día de los Muertos altar, Denver Art Museum, Denver CO.

Judge for Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, Colorado History Museum, Denver CO.

Entrance way altar Installation, Museum of Contemporary Art ,Denver CO.

Día de los Muertos Installation ,Dairy Arts Center, Boulder CO.

Día de los Muertos Installation , Westwood Art District, Denver CO.

Día de los Muertos Installation, Pirate Art Gallery, Denver CO.

Sun, Moon and the Space Between Solo Show, Recreative Denver, Denver CO.

Window Display, Recreative Denver, Denver CO.

Guadalupe Mural, Westwood Creative Arts District, Denver CO.

Solo show, CHAC Gallery, Denver CO.

2016

Activation Installation of 4th floor Pre-Colombian and Meso-American, Denver Art Museum, Denver CO.

Día de los Muertos Installation ,Pirate Art Gallery, Denver CO.

Wow Show, Core New Art Space , Denver CO.

Solo Show, Steve Adam's Gallery, Littleton, CO.

2015

Día de los Muertos Installation,Pirate Art Gallery, Denver CO.

Solo Show, Steve Adams Gallery, Littleton CO.

2014

Solo Show, Core New Art Space, Denver CO.

Día de los Muertos Installation, Pirate Art Gallery. Denver CO.

2013

Solo Show , Core New Art Space, Denver CO.

Día de los Muertos Installation, Pirate Art Gallery, Denver, CO.

2012

Solo Show, Pirate Art Gallery, Denver CO.

2011

Solo Show, Pirate Art Gallery, Denver CO.

2010

Solo Show, Pirate Art Gallery, Denver CO.

Día de los Muertos Installation, Pirate Art Gallery, Denver CO.

2009

Solo Show, Lakewood Cultural Center, Lakewood CO.

Solo Show, Pirate Art Gallery, Denver CO.

2008

Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, Museum of Outdoor Arts, Lakewood CO.