About the owner


 

Heidi Leigh, driven by the mantra “art is necessary”, has shared her enthusiasm and expertise as a gallery owner with clients, artists, and friends since 1984. Her inspiration is rooted in a passion for contemporary art and pop surrealism that is wildly imaginative and rooted in technical virtuosity.

After earning a BFA from Northwestern College, Leigh forged a career as a gallerist, subsequently owning and operating more than a dozen galleries, with permanent locations in New York, New Orleans, Las Vegas, and France. One of Leigh’s fortes and great joys is connecting artists with organizations that make the world a better place and championing that synergy for the greater good. She has organized many high profile events to benefit charitable organizations and museums. 

In 2005, Leigh acquired a chateau in France with the intention to create a sprawling art gallery within the magnificent medieval fortress. Today, visitors to the Chateau de Belcastel can enjoy a rich historical tour that includes exhibitions of art and sculpture. The Mayor of the village made Leigh an official “citizen of honor” in 2006. In 2016, the French Ministry of Arts and Culture nominated Heidi Leigh for an award and title few Americans have ever received, and in 2017 a medal was presented to her and she was knighted, “Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres”.

In 2019, she closed AFA in SoHo, and moved to France. New, high profile events at the château were monumental in scale, embellishing the medieval castle with street art, paintings and sculpture created by established artists working across diverse artistic disciplines. 

Currently, Leigh lives between France and Tanzania, near Mt Kiliminjaro, where she has acquired a property with her French companion.  Together, they are building a botanical garden full of landscape art projects and endangered species of plants from East Africa and Madagascar.

The most rewarding part of my career was being surrounded with outstanding artistry and supporting so many outstanding artists over the decades. My purpose and passion unfolded with every event that was a collaboration with  a charitable organisation, and it truly gives me joy to help make this world a better place by supporting art and culture. 

—Heidi Leigh

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