Taking Stock, the centerpiece of the main plaza of the newly opened National Western Center, and its annual Stock Show, serves as a point of arrival and an emblem of a West in transition. Standing 7.5 feet tall and 20 feet long, the sculpture subverts the familiar language of heroic figurative bronze sculpture. A cowgirl and a bull locked in a dance, merge into a single form, human and animal, past and present. The sculpture suggests that the myth of the American West is far more complex and diverse than popular culture would have us believe. It marks the transformation of the historic Denver Stockyards into a new civic landscape for education, exchange, work, celebration, and public gathering.
From Studio to Foundry to Site
Cliff Garten developed the work, directing a team of digital modelers, then creating rough digital prints that were covered with hand sculpted clay and fabricated in cast bronze by Metal Arts Foundry, who also installed the piece. “Cliff Garten’s Taking Stock brings a bold new vision to one of Denver’s most historic sites,” said Rudi Cerri, Denver Public Art Manager. “The sculpture honors the legacy of the Stockyards while challenging us to reflect on the evolving stories of the West. As part of Denver’s Public Art Collection, Taking Stock reflects the City’s ongoing investment in art as a vital public resource —inviting dialogue, connection, and a deeper understanding of the communities and histories that shape our city.”
Project Details
Title: Taking Stock
Location: National Western Center Campus Plaza, Denver, Colorado
Date: 2026
Medium: Cast, patinated bronze on concrete pedestal
Dimensions: 20 feet L x 8 feet W x 7 feet 5 inches H
Commissioned by: Denver Arts and Venues Public Art Program, City and County of Denver
Project Team
Digital Modeling: Daniel Bel, Eric Meadmore, Francisco Miyara, Emmanuel Yatsuzuka
Foundry and Casting: Metal Arts Foundry - Brian Ivie, Kevin Maag, Shannan Varner
Cliff Garten Studio: Project Management - Sixto Cordero
Lighting Design: CLS - Rich Molinero
Structural Engineering: YetiWeurks - Nick Geurts
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