Heather and Tony Podesta

Heather and Tony Podesta are among the most well-known Democratic lobbyists in the nation's capital.

The couple have much in common. They both raise a lot of money for Democrats, and can often be seen mingling with bold-faced names all over town. But their shared interests transcend politics, as Heather and Tony are both art lovers.

Tony lobbies for the Podesta Group, a three-person business he started with his brother, former White House Chief of Staff John Podesta. The two built it into one of the leading firms in the D.C. area. Heather is senior partner of the firm Heather Podesta + Partners.

Throughout their eight-year marriage, art has been a pleasant diversion from the grind of the daily routine.

“Art has been a passion of mine for many years,” said Tony. “It’s challenging, provocative and beautiful. I can’t think of any other way to think about and experience the world. I can’t imagine living without art.”

The couple have an extensive art collection and are currently sharing part of it with the Katzen Arts Center at American University. “Inner Piece: The works from the Heather and Tony Podesta Collection” will be on display through early December.

“Jack Rasmussen [Katzen Center curator and director] approached us a year ago about turning the space over and asking what we wanted to do with it,” Heather said. “We’ve been longtime supporters of the Katzen Center and of Jack in particular.”

Heather enjoys the museum’s unusual rounded walls and unique nature. “It can really intimidate a curator, artist and collector,” she said.

The Podestas chose “365” by Laurel Nakadate. The works are a series of 365 large format photos, one for every day of the year, portraying moments of sadness in the artist’s life.

“Only 220 of them could fit in,” Heather said. “It’s such a clear composition with interesting light — they’re quite provocative images. You walk in and it takes your breath away.”

Another artist displayed in the Podesta’s Katzen collection is Julie Roberts, a Welsh painter who creates some unusual and perverse subject matter. The works displayed at AU include a series of gynecological chairs and mortuary slabs done on bright acrylic backgrounds.

There is also Clare Langan, an Irish woman whose three films are playing at the museum, entitled “Forty Below,” “Glass Hour” and “Too Dark for Night.”

The final artist is Pilar Albaracin, whose film “Bailar Sobre Tu Tumba” is playing at AU. This film of shows two flamenco dancers shot from the knees down. 

Heather said, “Seeing a man and woman’s feet communicate through dance is interesting, and who doesn’t love the title [translated], ‘I will dance on your grave?’”

Of course, no art is without discussion. “I’d like to say we see eye to eye on everything, but that would be a lie,” Heather said. “Ninety-five percent of the time we agree, but that five percent of the time we disagree, it’s incredibly potent.”

Since both share the same profession, “everything is a negotiation.” “You deal with two lobbyists, there’s a lot of gray area,” Heather said.

Even art Heather loves and Tony’s disliked initially has eventually grown on him. “I always say a team is stronger than the individuals, we learn from each other all the time,” he said.

The Podestas seek artwork anywhere and everywhere, including the upcoming Transformer auction, scheduled for Nov. 18. Transformer is a D.C.-based non-profit organization that connects and promotes emerging artists locally, nationally and internationally.

If one is looking to get into art collecting, Tony recommended attending Transformer. “There’s a lot of very good younger artists out there and their work is inexpensive,” he said. “For the price of a night on the town you can get a great piece of art instead.”

----Kate Oczypok