“Exhibition ‘Tell Clyfford I Said Hi’ Opens at the Clyfford Still Museum”

“Tell Clyfford I Said ‘Hi’”: An Exhibition Curated by Children of the Colville Confederated Tribes is an innovative exhibit at the Clyfford Still Museum that brings forth the unique perspectives of the Colville youth regarding Still’s artwork. Utilizing a community-driven approach, the museum staff worked alongside children aged three to 14 and their teachers to design every aspect of the exhibition. This collaboration aims to shed new light on Clyfford Still’s depictions of the Colville Tribes’ homeland and his abstract creations.

Bailey Placzek, the museum’s curator of collections, emphasized the importance of community involvement to deepen the understanding of Still’s artwork, envisioning this collaboration as a continuation of the vibrant relationship initiated between Still and the Colville Confederated Tribes nearly a century ago. The goal is to build a more combined and equitable understanding of history.

Clyfford Still’s engagement with the Colville community dates back to the mid-1930s when he was an art professor at Washington State College. After a visit to the reservation in 1936, he co-founded a summer art program that led to meaningful connections with both the people and the natural surroundings of the area. This period resulted in over 100 sketches, paintings, and photographs created between 1937 and 1938.

Nicole Cromartie, the museum’s director of learning and engagement, noted that “Tell Clyfford” emerged from Tribal leaders’ ambitions for their youth to engage with Still’s work. This initiative is part of the museum’s broader approach to encourage interaction with its collections by granting shared authority over Still’s art with their various communities.

The exhibition remains open to the public through May 10, 2026, offering audiences the opportunity to explore a diversely enriched view of Still’s legacy. The Clyfford Still Museum in Denver, Colorado, houses approximately 3,125 pieces—about 93% of Still’s entire oeuvre—within its architecturally acclaimed space, which invites visitors to delve into a world-class artistic experience and unearth their creative potential. For more information, visit clyffordstillmuseum.org.