As former director of the Jack Leigh Gallery and current owner of her namesake Laney Contemporary since 2017, Savannah’s Susan Laney has been instrumental in carving out space for contemporary artists in the South—while advising high-profile art patrons both corporate and private. From Tori Tinsley to Marcus Kenney, the gallerist presents leading artists’ works in landmark exhibitions across multiple floors. A circa-1982 Brutalist building by architect Lee J. Meyer provides the perfect showcase. Below, Laney lets us know why to go.
Tell us about this location. It’s off the beaten path but has so much character, plus a sprawling front lawn for parties, performances and sculpture. With so much tourism and so little parking downtown, we liked the idea of creating a destination where we would get less walk-in traffic, but more by-appointment visitors with serious interest in what we’re showing.
Why the contemporary focus? These are the artists I knew and loved before I decided to open the gallery. They were underrepresented in the South, so that’s what put the fire underneath me to support them. I want artists to be able to stay and thrive here in Savannah.
What drives you? It all comes down to these creatives who are a living part of our world, actively making it a more interesting place to be. They’re the ones starting conversations that cause people to look at things differently, and I’m lucky enough to collaborate with them.
