Cynthia Connolly is a photographer, artist, and curator. She became involved in the punk scene in the District in 1981. From 1987-1992, Connolly worked for d.c. space, located at 7th Street NW and E Street NW as the Director of Entertainment, Public Relations, and on occasion, Art Curator. d.c. space was a Washington, D.C. music and arts venue that hosted local, national, and international concerts; film screenings; live theatre; poetry readings; and other performances. Punk bands and avant-garde artists whose styles were not especially suited for large commercial venues found a home in the small club. Connolly was responsible for booking performances, negotiating contracts with artists, promoting events through newspapers, radio, printed advertisements, and distributing flyers. She remained in this role until d.c. space closed December 31, 1991.

Connolly was one of the first employees of the independent punk music label, Dischord Records, located in Arlington, Virginia, where she was the Director of Public Relations and Promotions, from 1992 to 2002. In this position, she initiated, oversaw and managed the promotions department. sent promotional records to zines,magazines and radio stations and also distributed advertising for print media, including a growing network of national and international zines and magazines, and independently published magazines. Connolly developed an archive system for the press for all bands signed to the label, in addition to her other duties.Perhaps Connolly is most known for her cover art design for Minor Threat’s album, Out of Step. She also served as one of the editors, with Sharon Cheslow and Leslie Clague, of Banned in DC: Photos and Anecdotes From the D.C. Punk Underground (79–85), published n 1988, through her small press Sun Dog Propaganda. Banned in DC documented the early hardcore punk scene in Washington, D.C., including bands like Bad Brains and Minor Threat. Since it was first published, Banned in DC has had seven editions.

Connolly’s photography is included in the collections of the J. Paul Getty Museum, Smithsonian Museum of American History, National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, and private collections.

As of 2019 Connolly serves as Special Projects Curator at the Arlington Arts Center, and resides in Arlington, Virginia.