Standing in front of The Atrium at Market Center, a luxury apartment building at 118 North Howard Street, you would never know you're standing on top of one of the city's larger art galleries. Close to Lexington Market, the Hippodrome Theatre, and the Inner Harbor, Sub-Basement Artist Studios gallery is located right in the heart of Baltimore's West Side renaissance—a developing commercial, residential, and cultural arts district. If only I could find it. Where is this gallery, anyway?


I attended the Femme Effect opening at Sub-Basement on a Saturday evening in January. I got the directions to the space from a friend, but I double-checked them online (at www.subbasementartiststudios.com) to make sure. The idea of going to an art show in a basement underneath another basement seemed odd and almost unbelievable, so I wrote down the directions carefully. I was sure I would get lost.

After parking in a garage, I entered The Atrium. I took the lobby elevator to the basement, and then I walked down a small, butter-colored hallway to another elevator. Once inside the second elevator, I had two choices: B or SB. It seemed a bit Alice in Wonderland to me, but I hit SB and went down to the basement under the basement. Upon exiting the elevator, I was relieved to hear the sounds of jazz, buzzing conversation, and clinking glasses. I walked forward, a bit dazed and surprised, into 13,000 square feet of gallery space with light-filled 15-foot ceilings and crowds of people.

"People always expect the space to be tiny—like a crawlspace or something," says founder and director Jeffrey Kent. "But they couldn't be more wrong." Kent rented the space three years ago, originally for a painting studio. A self-trained artist, Kent has been working and exhibiting in the city for more than a decade. His original studio, in the West Side's A.S. Abell building, flooded after a water main break. Kent knew that he needed to relocate, but he wanted to stay in the neighborhood. He says he chose the sub-basement because he couldn't resist the sprawling space—20,000 square feet total.

The Atrium, originally a Hecht's flagship department store, used the sub-basement as a loading dock and merchandising department. When Kent was first shown the space, The Atrium had already renovated the systems, so all he had to do was clear out debris, build walls, and paint. "There were all of these Hecht's sales signs down here," Kent says, "and mannequins and old bits of merchandise."

After a few informal showings of his own textural abstract paintings, Kent decided to use the cavernous space as an alternative gallery for local Baltimore artists.

"Every neighborhood needs an art gallery," Kent says. "Our goal is to bring together the art community, the locals, and the corporate developers to create an even better place to live." Kent grew up in Baltimore City and feels very strongly that the presence of art in the neighborhood is a necessity. "Children should grow up in homes with original art in them. Corporate and individual collectors should buy from the museum-quality artists that Baltimore has to offer." Kent's own work has been purchased for several cor ­ porate collections, and he strives to connect the art ­ ists who exhibit in his space with potential buyers.

In addition to being exhibition space, the Sub-Basement functions as artist workspaces. The art ­ ists who share the space with Kent are Dana Reifler, Amy Sherald, and Terry Thompson. Sherald credits Kent for her blossoming art career. "After grad school, it was crucial that I had a space to paint and show my work," she said. "I heard through word of mouth about Jeffrey Kent, and I set out to find him."

Reifler, a painter and the gallery's curator and manager, is excited for the future of the space, in ­ cluding a new residency program. "We are planning to build another studio that we will award to an artist for one year, with a curated solo show. We're going to put out calls for applicants in fall 2007." Reifler is encouraged by the momentum she has observed in recent months, noting, "The number of people attending our events grows with each exhibition. We are seeing a constant increase in the support for our artists and our space."

Besides the monthly art openings and a Web gallery, Sub-Basement hosts invitation-only wine tastings, which bring collectors and artists together. The space also features live musical acts, artist and curator talks, and readings by local poets and writers.

When asked if he sees the gallery's unusual location as an obstacle, Kent responds positively. "We're unique, and for that we are thankful. I think Baltimore is on the rise, and with more wealth in the area there is more of a desire for original art. We just need good venues to exhibit it."