Entry No. 100 — the Denver file — filed under: diy-venue
Squirm Gallery
This small brick warehouse on Brighton was Rhinoceropolis — one of the most mythologized DIY spaces Denver ever had — and a crew of artists reopened it as Squirm, an unmarked gallery that doubles as a punk/hardcore/experimental show space. There's no marquee and no advertising; you find out about a show because someone told you. In the back they built out screen and riso printers, a kiln, a darkroom, and a metalsmithing setup, so the art on the walls is often made on-site.
The story
You won't find a sign, a marquee, or a storefront on this industrial stretch of Brighton Boulevard. What you will find at 3553 Brighton is a modest brick warehouse holding heavy memory: for over a decade, this building housed Rhinoceropolis, the legendary DIY sanctuary that anchored Denver's underground music scene. When the address freed up, former Rhino resident Zach Burke teamed up with artists Zak Ashburn, Cyrena Rosati, Ruby Sumners, Alishya Swenning, and Peina Vella to reclaim the floorboards, reopening it as Squirm Gallery—a collective space that keeps RiNo's pre-brewery lineage alive.
They launched Squirm because while local DIY music had established spaces, unvarnished visual art lacked a permanent home base. The front room rotates between an art gallery and a floor for hardcore sets, noise shows, and experimental video art. Walk into the back room, and you'll find the workshop: a shared studio outfitted with a risograph printer, screen-printing setups, a ceramic kiln, a darkroom, and a metalsmithing rig. Because the collective works on-site, much of the art pinned to the front walls was pulled from a press or fired in a kiln just a few feet away.
What it's like
Arriving at the unmarked brick door on Brighton Boulevard requires checking @squirmgallery or Do303 before you step out, as there are no fixed public retail hours—you only show up when a show or opening is explicitly posted. Inside, the space is raw, intimate, and stripped of commercial gallery polish. Entry is event-dependent and runs on a suggested cash donation at the door (usually $5 to $10) to support the artists and keep shows all-ages, so carry bills. Street parking along Brighton is usually simple, but confirm which door is active on social media before you walk up to the building.
The move: Catch an opening or an experimental/noise show in a room that's both art gallery and former-legend punk warehouse, then wander the back studios — it's the rare RiNo spot that has nothing to do with breweries and everything to do with what the neighborhood was before the breweries.
📍 Before you go It sits on the industrial stretch of Brighton Blvd in RiNo, and because the door is unmarked, the practical move is to confirm exactly which entrance before you head over rather than circling the block. There are no fixed gallery hours — it runs on openings and shows, so go when one is actually posted (@squirmgallery or Do303), most often evenings and weekends. Events are all-ages and typically run on a suggested donation at the door, so carry a little cash. Street parking along Brighton is usually easy. You are steps from RiNo breweries, galleries, and restaurants if you want a before-or-after stop.
- 📍 RiNo (River North)
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 3553 Brighton Blvd, Denver, CO 80216 (unmarked; the former Rhinoceropolis warehouse)
Hours: Gallery/event-driven, not fixed retail hours — exhibitions and shows are posted on Instagram (@squirmgallery) and Do303. Unmarked, so confirm the door before you go.
Pair it with
- Dateline Gallery — Pair Denver's most storied underground DIY warehouse with RiNo's other deliberate fringe gallery for an outing focused strictly on local art.
- Fort Greene — Cross over to another signless industrial door for a post-show drink inside an 1880s Globeville building.
- Forney Museum of Transportation — Stay along Brighton Boulevard to trade Squirm’s artist studio gear for 70,000 square feet of unexpected vintage iron and transit history.
- Hell or High Water Tiki — Follow up an unmarked DIY noise show with another unadvertised RiNo door hiding a phallus-adorned tiki bar.
Good to know
How do I know when Squirm Gallery is open?
There are no set retail hours; the gallery opens exclusively for posted exhibition receptions and live performances. Check their Instagram (@squirmgallery) or Do303 event listings before heading out.
Where is the entrance, and is there a sign?
There is no sign or marquee. Squirm operates out of an unmarked brick warehouse at 3553 Brighton Boulevard—the former Rhinoceropolis space—so confirm the door details on social media before you arrive.
How much does entry cost?
Events are all-ages and operate on a suggested cash donation at the door, usually $5 to $10, which goes directly to the performing artists and space upkeep.
Is there parking nearby?
Street parking along Brighton Boulevard is generally easy to find near the warehouse.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Westword · Instagram
last checked: 2026-06-07