ANNAPOLIS, MD.- Atlantic Arts, the Annapolis-based art consulting and project management firm completed a year-long consulting, acquisition, and installation project for the new Legg Mason International Headquarters in Baltimore at Harbor East. Collaborating directly with the developer of Harbor East, the building’s lead architect, and Legg Mason’s own art consultants, Atlantic Arts facilitated the comprehensive art selection process that resulted in the custom ten-square foot Caio Fonseca painting in the building’s lobby.

Atlantic Arts has been engaged with H&S Properties Development on other projects and in July of 2008 the Harbor East developer tasked the Atlantic Arts consulting team with leading the Legg Mason lobby art project. As a leading financial firm moving into a brand new LEED-certified building, it was critical that the art selected for the building’s lobby represent the values and vision of Legg Mason and their eco-friendly international headquarters. Legg Mason is characterized as a global diversified asset management firm whose expertise garners long-term performance. Atlantic Arts helped the team identify artists whose work embodies these qualities of Legg Mason, has international recognition, and fit the project budget.

The focus on selecting contemporary art for the new Legg Mason lobby in Harbor East was a challenge that Atlantic Arts is uniquely qualified to manage. Mark Myers, owner and president of Atlantic Arts acknowledges that, “Buying contemporary art requires having perspective on what pieces will have staying power; the artwork has to show energy without being too edgy.” From his experience in decorating hotels, law firms, and other corporate lobbies, Myers was able to guide the Legg Mason and Harbor East team to the contemporary paintings of Caio Fonseca for the prominent Inner Harbor building.

As the lead art consultant for the project, Atlantic Arts engaged Fonseca, supervised the negotiation process, managed the artist and the project timeline, and provided the resources for installing the completed painting in the Legg Mason building this summer. Caio Fonseca is an American artist who studied and painted in Barcelona and Paris and works in studios in New York City and Pietrasanta, Italy. His paintings and etchings are shown internationally and his structurally abstract art was quickly endorsed by the Legg Mason art consultants upon Myers’ recommendation.

The seamless and collaborative process from concept to completion is a direct result of the Atlantic Arts’ consulting team’s experience with art selection, procurement, framing, and installation. The substantial commission associated with the Legg Mason and Harbor East art consulting project is an indicator of Atlantic Arts’ credibility and established reputation in the contemporary art industry.