A beloved Denver art gallery, Mirada Fine Art, is closing its doors after an impressive 16-year run. This marks the end of an era for the local art scene.
Mirada Fine Art Gallery, initially established in Indian Hills before relocating to downtown Denver in 2020, has announced it will cease operations by the close of the year. For nearly two decades, the gallery has been a prominent fixture in Denver's artistic landscape, earning numerous accolades. These include the American Arts Awards for Top Galleries in the United States in 2022, 2023, and 2024. The gallery's commitment to showcasing exceptional art has solidified its reputation and garnered a loyal following.
Owner Steve Sonnen shared insights into the gallery's mission: "Mirada is a gallery that features contemporary art from across North America. We feature a number of Colorado artists, but in addition to that, we have artists from Canada and Mexico and pretty much all of North America." This dedication to a diverse range of artists has been a cornerstone of Mirada's success.
Sonnen described the closure as "bittersweet," highlighting the family-run nature of the business. His sister, Jan Thompson, managed the gallery, and his wife handled bookkeeping. He emphasized that preserving the gallery's unique atmosphere and reputation was a crucial factor in his decision not to sell. "We’ve built this very distinctive look and feel. It’s a little bit of a part of me, and a part of my sister and my wife. If you just sold it, you lose all control over what happens with the gallery. And it would really break my heart to see it go in a totally different direction."
Sonnen revealed that the closure has been in the works for several years. When Mirada moved downtown, he intentionally signed a five-year lease timed to coincide with his retirement. "We always had planned to go out at this time, and so it’s nice to be able to go out on our own terms," he stated.
The gallery will remain open until December 28, 2025. In a departure from tradition, Mirada is offering rotating closeout sales featuring different artists each week. "In the 16 years we’ve been in business, we’ve never done a sale. But this is sort of an unusual situation," Sonnen explained.
Sonnen and his wife plan to spend their retirement in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, a place they fell in love with after honeymooning there decades ago. However, he acknowledges that leaving Mirada behind will evoke a mix of emotions. "When we started the closeout sale, I don’t think it really kicked in until then. We had so many clients call or email to say they were sad we were going out of business. It’s going to be weird not being surrounded by this artwork and these amazing clients and artists, but I’m excited about the next chapter."
Sonnen attributes Mirada’s success to its artists and supporters as much as to his family. "My goodbye message to both our artists and our clients would be that it was all them that did this. We really appreciate their business and them supporting us. I think people got something out of the gallery, but we definitely got a lot back from them."
Mirada Fine Art Gallery will continue its regular hours and events throughout the year as it prepares for its final day of operation.
What are your thoughts on the closure of Mirada Fine Art Gallery? Do you have any favorite memories or experiences from visiting the gallery? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
