Amanda Precourt, a 52-year-old philanthropist and real estate developer, has transformed a former fortune cookie factory in Denver's Baker neighborhood into a combined private residence and public art space called Cookie Factory. Over the past nine years, she has amassed a contemporary art collection at a rapid pace, designing her 8,000-square-foot home around specific works—such as Anselm Kiefer's monumental painting *Engel der Geschichte* (2017) and Jeffrey Gibson's beaded punching bag *Know Your Magic, Baby* (2016). The lower 5,700 square feet of the building serves as a free, self-funded public gallery, where Precourt, her partner Andrew Jensdotter, and artistic director Jérôme Sans invite artists to create site-specific works inspired by Colorado. The space opened last May with an exhibition by Sam Falls, and a second show featuring Gary Simmons runs through May 9.
This story matters because it exemplifies a growing trend of private collectors creating publicly accessible art spaces that operate outside traditional museum structures, blending philanthropy with personal passion. Precourt's openness about her mental health struggles and her framing of the project as "karmic duty" adds a deeply personal dimension to the venture, highlighting how art can serve as a vehicle for healing and community engagement. Cookie Factory also underscores Denver's emergence as a destination for ambitious contemporary art initiatives, driven by collectors who repurpose industrial architecture into cultural landmarks.