As Atlanta's economy outpaces most major metropolitan areas, why do the city's art buyers still go to New York, LA, and Miami to find art?  That's the question being addressed by Connie Zerden, the Founder of Art Buckhead.

Launching with a pop-up show November 2-3 on Miami Circle, Art Buckhead will introduce Atlanta to a curated selection of artists chosen, unusually, for their stylistic differences.  "Typically, gallery shows focus on a specific style," says Zerden, "which results in buyers running all over town to shop art.  Art Buckhead, in contrast, provides exceptional talent in a range of styles, all in one stop."

To choose the artists, Zerden sought help from contacts within Atlanta's art education and museum fields.  In the end, artists were selected by two methods.  Established artists, like accomplished sculptor David Landis, were sought out by Zerden, while emerging artists were chosen through a blind submission process.  "Think of it like watching The Voice," says Zerden.  "An artist's age, looks, and background should not impact their success.  Talent should impact their success, period."    

As an artist and businesswoman (Zerden was formerly a VP at Showtime Networks), Zerden saw the Atlanta market as a huge opportunity.  Even so, she watched time and again as friends took off for far-flung cities to buy art.  "It makes no sense that Atlanta is not a "first stop" for art.  We have SCAD turning out world-class talent; we have the High, yet we do not have a reputation as an art powerhouse.  That needs to change."

Although Zerden did bring in one artist from New York, "civil rights activist and artist Janet Braun-Reinitz expressed interest, I couldn't resist," the other artists all reside in the Atlanta vicinity.  "The goal is for this show to grow every year, providing more and more opportunity for artists and collectors from throughout the U.S. to view Atlanta as an art destination."