Entry No. 22 — the Denver file — filed under: art
The Art Garage
It's a working nonprofit art studio crammed into an old converted mechanic's garage on a Park Hill corner — floor-to-ceiling chalkboards, cabinets of supplies, and the bones of the original garage still showing. Founder Barb McKee built it as a place where 'everyone is an artist,' and the Adult Open Studio nights (roughly 5:30-8:30pm) let grown-ups just show up, grab materials, and make something with no class to sign up for. Almost nobody outside the immediate neighborhood knows the adult drop-in nights exist; most people assume it's kids-only summer camps. Check their site for the current Open Studio dates before you go.
The story
If you drive past the residential corner of East 23rd Avenue in Park Hill, you'll see a squat, cinder-block structure that looks like it should still be changing oil filters. In 2006, local public artist Barb McKee—the same designer who created the concrete sound walls along Denver’s I-25 corridor—converted this former mechanic’s bay into a neighborhood art studio. She handed over the space to working artists and kept the raw industrial bones intact: concrete flooring, exposed overhead trusses, and garage doors that roll up to let in the neighborhood breeze.
In 2012, the space officially converted into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, anchored by McKee's foundational belief that 'everyone is an artist.' While most families in eastern Denver know the building purely as a summer camp drop-off spot for children, the real secret is what happens after the kids leave. On select evening sessions, the garage flips into an unpretentious, low-stakes workspace for adults.
You won't find sterile white walls or gallery pretension here. Instead, the garage interior is packed floor-to-ceiling with chalkboards, cabinets loaded with supplies, a drying station by the main sink in the green studio room, and a community tea kettle on the side. You didn't hear it from us, but if you want an offbeat night out where you actually make something with your hands instead of shouting over loud bar music, this quiet neighborhood corner is where you go.
What it's like
Expect to pull up to a quiet residential intersection in Park Hill where there is no massive gallery storefront—just a converted mechanic's garage tucked directly into the housing block. Inside, the studio feels like a community art room stripped of grades: floor-to-ceiling chalkboard walls, open worktables, and cabinets stocked with paints and tools. When you arrive for an Adult Open Studio evening (which typically runs roughly 5:30pm to 8:30pm on select dates), you can grab a spot at a table, pour a tea at the kettle, or claim a patch of chalkboard. Cell phone calls are banned in the studio space to keep the environment quiet and focused, and house rules require you to wash and return all borrowed brushes at the main sink before leaving. Park in the small lot or along the free neighborhood street, keep your voice low for the neighbors, and come dressed in clothes you don't mind getting messy.
The move: Hit an Adult Open Studio night together, claim a corner of a chalkboard wall, and make something dumb and good with the studio's materials — low stakes, hands busy, lots to talk about.
📍 Before you go It sits on a residential Park Hill corner — look for the squat former mechanic's garage, not a gallery storefront, and do not expect a big sign. There is on-site and free neighborhood street parking, but this is a working studio on a quiet block, so park considerately and keep it low-key for the neighbors. Materials are provided, so come empty-handed and dressed to get a little messy. The grown-up drop-in evenings run only on select dates, so check the calendar ahead. Pair it with the cafes and shops down on 23rd, or a walk through nearby City Park.
- 📍 Park Hill
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 6100 E 23rd Ave, Denver, CO 80207 (inside a converted former mechanic's garage)
Hours: Adult Open Studio runs as a recurring evening event (about 5:30-8:30pm) rather than fixed daily hours; confirm the next date on artgaragedenver.com or by calling (303) 377-2353. Classes/camps are scheduled separately.
Pair it with
- The Cherry Tomato — After making a mess at the garage, walk under a mile down the Park Hill parkways for pasta inside a cozy neighborhood house that hasn't changed since 1997.
- Park Hill Treasures — Swap hands-on studio art for oddity hunting inside an antique market tucked into a former bank branch complete with its original vault.
- Chicky the Prairie Dog — Pair your creative evening with a trip to nearby City Park to peer inside a nine-foot amethyst geode for a hidden taxidermied prairie dog.
- Bar Max — Trade raw drop-in painting for a custom cocktail down on Colfax, where bartenders build drinks based on a flavor wheel instead of a fixed menu.
Good to know
When are the Adult Open Studio nights held?
They operate on select recurring evening dates rather than fixed daily hours, usually running from roughly 5:30pm to 8:30pm. Because dates fluctuate, you should check artgaragedenver.com or call (303) 377-2353 before heading out.
Do I need to bring my own art supplies?
Basic studio tools like brushes and palettes are available on site, and materials are provided for drop-in nights, though open studio participants can also bring personal project materials (check with staff ahead of time if working with specialized mediums like oils or wax).
Where do I park when visiting?
There is a small on-site parking area as well as free street parking along the surrounding residential blocks of Park Hill; park considerately to keep things easy for the local neighbors.
Is alcohol allowed during open studio hours?
No, alcohol consumption is prohibited during standard studio programs under their house code of conduct, reserving drink permits strictly for special private events.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Yelp · visitdenver.com
last checked: 2026-06-07