The Legg Mason building in Harbor East is home to the namesake financial behemoth, the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and a flurry of new retailers.
A contemporary art gallery will join the glass-encased 24-story building Sept. 6.
Clark Priftis Art will open a 2,400-square-foot gallery in a location that owner Ann Priftis hopes will give her access to the well-heeled residents, tourists and office workers in that part of town.
"It's an ideal location in terms of accessibility for tourists and residents," Priftis says.
With floor-to-ceiling windows, the gallery's pie-shaped space is located at the
Harbor East traffic circle. That spot will hopefully get great visibility from pedestrians and drivers.
An art dealer and appraiser who has worked in New York, Priftis has been scouting Baltimore for years to find the perfect spot. Several years ago, she was close to opening an art gallery on the city's west side. But those plans fell through when the cost turned out higher than original estimates and she and her former business partner had different visions.
Priftis has long been interested in Harbor East, but when she approached the developers several years ago, the rent was out of her range.
She declined to say how much she is paying for her space in Harbor East. But in general, retail rents throughout Baltimore have come down as much as 30 percent from their highs in 2006 and many developers are offering a variety of incentives to lure tenants.
Priftis has signed a six-month lease with the option to extend her stay if things go well.
The gallery will feature modern painting, sculpture and photography.
"We're trying to bring high quality art from various parts of the world," she says.
The gallery will be open Tuesday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. and from noon until 5 p.m. on Sundays.
Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: Ann Priftis, Clark Priftis Art