A gallery is defined not only by the artwork on its walls, but also by the people who give the space its character. At Gallery MAR in Park City, the experience of the gallery is shaped each day by the team who welcomes visitors, shares the stories behind the artists, and helps guide collectors toward works that truly resonate.

 

Below, we introduce three of the familiar faces you may have encountered during a recent visit: Gallery MAR Managing Director Leslie Wright, Fine Art Consultant Meg Warnock, and Gallery Assistant and Shipping Manager Victoria Johnson. Their reflections offer a small portrait of the personalities, interests, and perspectives that animate the gallery beyond the paintings themselves.

 

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Leslie Wright

Gallery MAR Managing Director

 

What kind of art do you naturally gravitate toward?

 

I’m instinctively drawn to color, texture, whimsy and beauty. These things bring me joy.  For years, I loved anything Art Deco for its elegance and bold design. Being at Gallery MAR has broadened my appreciation of many styles. I’m drawn to works that surprise me, delight me, or show me the world in a new way. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more nostalgic. Maybe we all do.  Sometimes a story behind a piece hits me in the best way. The works I keep coming back to are the ones that make me pause, hint at hidden connections, and remind me to stay curious.

 

 

What do you love most about working with our collectors?

 

I love meeting diverse people and discovering why they connect with certain pieces. What transforms a space for one person, invites conversation or holds personal meaning for another. I’m essentially a matchmaker, bringing the right work to the right person at the right time. It’s a mix of intuition, curiosity and a little bit of magic. I love it!

 

 

When you’re not in the gallery, where might we find you?

 

I’m a contradiction of extremes. When I’m in Utah, you’ll find me at home with my cat and husband, enjoying a homemade dinner, playing cards, listening to a podcast or relaxing in a hot bath. I also like a little movement. We play pickleball at Basin Recreation and Willow Creek Park. I could float endlessly in water, so you’ll often find me in a body of water. Routine bores me, so I mix it up a bit by going to a show at Eccles or enjoying a dining experience with my daughter. We love thrifting for unique finds. I love the gritty Capital City Antique Mall, or Re in Park City.  

 

When I’m away from Park City, I’m usually in New Mexico with my parents or visiting my son, wherever he happens to be. I love traveling abroad as often as possible with my family, who are also my best friends. We enjoy exploring different cultures, art, architecture and food. Life for me is a mix of comfort, curiosity and adventure. Join me at Eccles to see Neil deGrass Tyson in June for a little excitement!

 

 

What’s something on your bucket list right now?

 

I recently added visiting Costa Rica to participate in a sea turtle conservation program, where we help release baby leatherback turtles in the ocean at night. My niece is living there now, and I’ve always admired these sweet little guys. I’ve also never taken a long train ride across the countryside. There’s something romantic and rhythmic about watching the world unfold outside my window. I don’t like to do the same thing twice.

 

 

Do you have a favorite piece currently on view in the gallery? What about it resonates with you?

 

Gosh, there are too many to choose from! Right now, I’m especially captivated by Stefan Heyer’s new works, especially “Grunkraft.” I loved it at first sight and then did a little research.  Grunkraft is the modern equivalent of Hildegard’s viriditas, the life force that animates nature and all living things. I love how he begins with something familiar like a sun or partial landscape, but suggests invisible forces that only the viewer can imagine. The intrigue keeps me thinking and excited to uncover more.

 

 

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Meg Warnock

Fine Art Consultant

 

What first sparked your interest in art?

 

I have been drawing and painting since I was a child, but my deeper love for the art world began when I took my first art history class in high school. I quickly realized that to study art is to study the human experience. Art is a record of our histories, cultures, emotions, and the ways we see the world. That realization sparked a curiosity that has continued to grow and shape how I connect with art today. 

 

 

What’s your favorite part about helping collectors find the right artwork?

 

At Gallery MAR, we represent a wide variety of artists, styles, and mediums. As a consultant, my role is to listen closely and observe our collectors to understand what resonates with them. There is nothing better than pulling out a piece I think they might love and seeing their eyes widen as excitement washes over their face. That “love at first sight” expression is just as thrilling for me as it is for them!

 

 

If you had a completely free day in Park City, how would you spend it?

 

If I had a completely free day in Park City, I would start the morning skiing at one of our beautiful resorts. In the afternoon, I’d enjoy après-ski at No Name Saloon or Wasatch Brewery and take a walk along historic Main Street. Later, I’d go tubing at Woodward Park City and finish the day by trying a restaurant I’ve never been to before.

 

 

What’s a book, show, or podcast you’ve been loving lately?

 

Lately, I’ve been listening to Amy Poehler’s podcast “Good Hang” while I drive. She always has great guests, and it makes me laugh. As for shows, I’ve been watching the new season of The Pitt. I’m usually not drawn to medical dramas, but this one is completely addicting!

 

 

Do you have a favorite piece currently on view in the gallery? What about it resonates with you?

 

My favorite piece at Gallery MAR changes often, especially when new work arrives. However, the painting I consistently find myself returning to is “Under the Pear Tree Maidens & Clay Pitcher” by America Martin. It has a large yet quiet presence. The soft neutral tones, juxtaposed with pops of yellow and the unique shape of the canvas, feel reminiscent of South American tile work. The raw linen and lack of varnish allow the viewer to fully appreciate the texture of the paint, giving the piece a grounded warmth that is both subtle and captivating.

 

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Victoria Johnson

Gallery Assistant & Shipping Manager

 

Where are you from originally, and what brought you to Park City? 

 

I’m originally from Porto Alegre, Brazil, and I currently live in Salt Lake City. Gallery MAR is actually what brought me to Park City. I’ve heard so much about it but had never really experienced the town before starting here. I’ve loved every bit of it so far, in particular how nestled it feels in the mountains.

 

 

What’s your favorite thing about working at Gallery MAR?

 

Getting to discover artists who work across so many different mediums and have such distinct styles! It’s been a pleasure not just learning about them but actually getting to meet some of them, hearing about their processes, their methods, and how their lives led them to making art full time. 

 

Plus, honestly, the team here has been just as much of a gift! Maren, Leslie, and Meg are all such different, interesting people and have taught me so much, not just about the artists we represent but about the art world in general. I’m really proud to be part of Gallery MAR.

 

 

What’s your favorite way to spend a day in Park City?

 

Driving around and taking photos. I haven’t ventured too far beyond Main Street yet, but I’ve loved climbing the stairs by China Bridge and getting as high up as I can to watch skiers come down the mountain. I’m also a big fan of finding a good bench and people watching (and eavesdropping, too). There are people from all over the world passing through Park City every day, and I love catching snippets of someone’s life, listening to different languages and taking in everyone’s outfits.

 

 

What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you? 

 

I’m deeply fascinated by taxidermy, specifically salvaged animal taxidermy. The idea of transforming a found animal into something that lives in your home as a sculpture feels genuinely beautiful to me. Maybe the beauty of it is in the patience. There’s something hopeful in that, in believing something can look like it once did. I completely understand why it might unsettle some people, but for me, it comes from an appreciation for genetics, evolution, and nature. 

 

 

Do you have a favorite piece currently on view in the gallery? What about it resonates with you?

 

I have two favorites, actually. “Campfire” by America Martin is one I keep coming back to: the scale, the glossy finish, the bold black background, the way the firelight catches the subjects’ hands, and the way she renders that dissipated light on their faces in blue and purple tones is just stunning. Three people sitting around a fire – there’s something so primal and human beautiful about it.

 

The other is “Postcard #3 (Big Top)” by Sara Edgar. The colors on that painting make me genuinely happy every time I walk past it. I’m a typography and graphic design enthusiast, so I’m always intrigued when text appears in paintings, and Edgar does it so well, especially in her “Postcard” series: the x’s and o’s used as shading on the elephant, the white stars against that deep blue sky, the red and white striped tent…It’s bold, playful and clever.

 

 

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Written by Veronica Vale and the Gallery MAR Staff