Urban Coral: The Quiet Magnetism of “National Velvet”

In a small concrete amphitheater at the base of the Highland Bridge, a striking crimson form rises, feeling both alien and deeply familiar. “National Velvet” is a vibrant, biomorphic cluster that seems to have sprouted from the city’s hardscape. Created by Denver artist John McEnroe in 2008, the piece is a silent performer on its stage-like platform. Its intense color and tactile surface pull the eye from the surrounding urban flow, offering a moment of organic wonder that connects the LoHi neighborhood to the Platte River valley below.

Play

Commissioned by the Denver Public Art Program, “National Velvet” is born from an elemental act. McEnroe, an artist known for his explorations of natural forms and industrial materials, began by simply squeezing a lump of clay in his hand. He then created molds from hundreds of these unique, intuitive shapes and cast them in a luminous, blood-red polyester resin. The title is a playful nod to the unexpectedly “velvety” texture of the initial casts—a tactile quality that remains visually potent in the final, glossy work, despite its hard surface.

The sculpture’s power lies in its ambiguity. Is it a strange geological formation, a brilliantly colored coral reef, or a living organism emerging from the concrete? Its clustered shapes suggest community, with each unique form contributing to a unified whole. Set against the brutalist gray of its sunken enclosure, the work becomes a study in contrasts: the organic versus the manufactured, the vibrant versus the muted. Its placement invites pause, turning passersby into an audience for its silent, textural monologue on nature’s persistence.

To encounter “National Velvet” is to feel an immediate, sensory curiosity. The sculpture’s glossy sheen reflects the shifting daylight, creating an intricate play of light and shadow across its complex surface. Though cool and hard to the touch, its visual texture is so strong that one can almost feel the imagined softness of its many lobes. Standing before it, with the distant rumble of I-25 and the hum of pedestrians crossing the bridge nearby, the sculpture provides a focal point of intense color and quiet energy—a welcome anomaly in the urban environment.

Getting There & Visitor Info

Parking: The most convenient parking is often found at the northeast end of Platte Street, near the Denver Skatepark, where some free street parking may be available. Metered parking is plentiful along Platte Street.

Accessibility: The sculpture is situated in a paved, open plaza that is fully accessible from the sidewalk. It can be reached on foot from the Platte River Trail, Confluence Park, or the surrounding LoHi and Riverfront Park neighborhoods.

Nearby Amenities: The location is adjacent to the South Platte River Trail system, Confluence Park, and the Denver Skatepark. The shops, cafes, and restaurants of the Platte Street Lifestyle District are just steps away.