A naturalist and painter, Anne Lane describes her body of work as “living in Romantic Figuratism.” A prolific painter whose work appears in private collections and public spaces from Africa to Australia, you may be familiar with her work if you’ve spent time in New Orleans, her most recent home before moving to Galveston.

Lane moved to the island with her two Frenchies, Pucca and Picachu, in October 2022 and opened the gallery on Avenue S shortly thereafter. Her friend and fellow artist-in-residence, Aubrey Anchrum, moved to Galveston recently and the two are collaborating on several works in progress.

Lane tore the building apart on the inside and did a complete renovation to the space. “The building had great bones. Now we just have to get through the street construction,” she said of the constant road work throughout the city.

Lane previously established art spaces in New Mexico, Puerto Rico, Southampton, Georgetown, New Orleans and South Beach, among others.

Lane favors urban cities that are surrounded by vast nature. Her French Quarter residence was a balcony flat above her gallery on Royale Street, which she said became overrun with crime after COVID.

Lane considered every city from Charleston to Galveston while searching for her new home. “I was looking for beach, Gulf Coast, rambling landscapes, birds, fish, and a host of other animals. Galveston checked all of those boxes for me.”

“Texas is unique; its own universe. Cowboys and rodeos are not cliché here - this is real life. It’s a planet of its own. It’s the hugeness of it. The richness of it. The Victorian district in the City of Galveston makes me feel like I’m in Paris,” Lane said.

 

“I feel so lucky to live in a place where there is so much natural beauty. Galveston has top-of-the-line architecture, culture, and a rich history. I find the world here very exciting. I just want to call attention to things and say, ‘Hey, do you see this? Let me show you.’ Artists needs those components to inspire us to make art,” Lane said.

 

Lane prefers to live and work in surroundings that inspire her to create. “In a world that is becoming more and more Amazon-oriented, where we are creating mass production of everything that is social-media marketed and influencer-based, you have to celebrate the little magic kingdoms,” she said.

“This place is my magic kingdom. This art is only created in this space and time. Every day, every situation, every moment is unique. This moment in time will never be exactly the same again.”

“That light will only hit that tree or that animal or that landscape, exactly that way, in one place in time. The weather won’t be quite the same again and the leaves will never look exactly the same again either. That is what makes life, well, life. My job, my dream, my art, is to capture that moment in time and give it to you,” Lane added.

Anne Lane Gallery is located at 3818 Avenue S and is open most afternoons and by appointment. An opening reception, showcasing “Once Upon a Time in Texas,” will be held on Friday, July 14 from 6 to 9pm. Musician Benji Ramsell will be performing live and wine and refreshments will be served. Everyone is welcome.

For more information about Anne, her gallery and her works call 202.251.3600 or visit www.annelanearts.com.