The Washington Post profiles gallery owner Leigh Connor as a beacon of hope for the Washington, DC contemporary art scene because the 47-year-old has brought outside artists to the city. She’s also bought collectors from far and wide. But being the hub for out-of-town buyers and artists hasn’t made a dent in the local scene:

“I’m not happy with the outmoded thought that in order to be a successful artist you have to leave D.C.,” Conner says. “Maybe in 1965, sure. But the world has changed. There’s no doubt that you have to engage with what’s going on. But that doesn’t mean you can’t live in D.C. and do so.” […] Over the past decade, the pair have attracted top local talent, including performance artist Mary Coble, video artist Brandon Morse, painter Erik Sandberg and artist Zoe Charlton, whose large-scale drawings deal with identity and race. […]

Though Conner and Smith would prefer it weren’t so, most of their customers don’t hail from the DMV. Conner won’t name names (“We don’t kiss and tell”), but it’s well known that one is Mera Rubell — the Miami-based mega-collector who is making inroads locally. Other buyers live in Belgium, Australia and throughout the United States and South America.

Leigh Connor, the Driving Force Behind Connor Contemporary (Washington Post)