Dale Chisman, 65, abstract painter

By Mary Voelz Chandler, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 30, 2008 at 1:56 p.m.
Updated August 30, 2008 at 3:36 p.m.

Text size

Photo by Mark Sink/Special to the Rocky

Artist Dale Chisman, whose elegant abstract paintings constantly evolved within his powerful signature style, died Friday night at his home in Northwest Denver.

Mr. Chisman had turned 65 on Aug. 17. He had been in poor health, suffering from the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that took his life. He returned home from a short stay in the hospital the day before his death.

A memorial service is set for 10 a.m. Wednesday at MCA Denver, 1485 Delgany St. Mr. Chisman was among the founders of the contemporary art museum and was honored by the institution in 2005 for his work.

Mr. Chisman, a Denver native, was a prolific painter who recently had shown a new body of work at Rule Gallery that included new forms and colors. His interest in art began in high school, where he studied with the respected abstract painter Martha Epp, and later, in Colorado Springs, with artist Mary Chenoweth.

He studied at the University of North Colorado before attending the Yale University Summer School of Art and Music. He returned to Colorado to earn a bachelor of fine arts degree and eventually a master of fine arts at the University of Colorado.

After spending more than a decade working in New York, Mr. Chisman returned home to pursue a career that put him in the top rank of Colorado artists.

Mr. Chisman is survived by his daughter, Rebecca Jorgensen, who lives with her husband and daughter in Seattle.

The family requests no flowers. Any donations should be made to MCA, which will be earmarked for a Dale Chisman fund.

Subscribe to the Rocky Mountain News