Public-art installation specialist AMPA moves to RiNo

Deana and Andy Miller bought Art Management & Planning Associates (AMPA) in 20011 and "have been going gangbusters ever since," says Deana.

The company has since moved from primarily managing corporate art collections into public-art fabrication and installation as well as consulting. Municipal clients include such municipalities as Longmont, Telluride, Boulder and Ridgway, along with Denver Botanic Gardens and CenturyLink.

The Clyfford Still Museum is also a client. AMPA handles the installation for all of its exhibitions.

"It's been amazing," says Deana of working with the museum. "They've been open for two years now and every two months we get to switch works out." As the prolific Still rarely sold any works, many of the works have never been on display anywhere. "It's history in the making," says Deana.

AMPA has two full-time employees -- Andy and Deana -- and several part-time employees who help with installations, most of whom are artists.

In July 2013, AMPA moved its office from a home in Highlands to a studio at Wazee Union in RiNo. "So far, so good," says Deana. "I thought it'd be a good environment for me around a bunch of creatives."

Before buying AMPA, Andy worked as a metal fabricator and artist -- which he continues to do -- and Deana worked as a public art consultant for the City of Aurora. The company was originally founded in 1982 by Katharine Smith-Warren. 

Contact Confluence Denver Innovation & Jobs News Editor Eric Peterson with tips and leads for future stories at eric@confluence-denver.com.