A self-described interior designer, curator, consultant and artist, Ann Connelly established her fine art business 25 years ago in Baton Rouge, first as a consultant and later opening a gallery space.
As Business Report details in its new Entrepreneur feature on Connelly, she has built her business on word-of-mouth referrals rising to become a standard-bearer of fine art in the community. Despite her reputation, Connelly does not consider herself successful.
“I am thrilled to have this presence in the community, but I got lucky,” Connelly says.
Her early inspiration came from her time spent working with Adalié Brent, the first director of the Louisiana Art and Science Museum. It was Brent who encouraged Connelly to follow her passion.
“‘Just jump and go do it,’” Connelly says, recalling Brent’s push. “She encouraged me to start consulting.”
But for Connelly, success only follows passion.
“You work hard,” she says, “and you figure out your way every day.”
When Connelly opened up her first gallery space about 20 years ago, she knew she had to figure out a business plan. With her creative mind, that task didn’t come easy.
“When we are in art school, we are taught to be completely out of the box,” Connelly says. “It goes exactly against the grain of business.”
However, with her finger on the pulse of the art world, Connelly says every business move has been intuitive.
“Also, I surround myself with really smart people,” she says.
After many years working to establish herself in the business community, Connelly can express her creativity by sharing the gallery’s artists with everyone.
“It is important for us to engage with the community,” she says, “because we feel like the arts is one of the most important building blocks for our society.”
She is now working to build a new gallery in Studio Park, a development focused on creative and lifestyle businesses at the corner of Lobdell Avenue and Jefferson Highway.
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