Corner store, creative hub
The Corner Store Gallery sits in a building that once served as Madeline Young’s childhood corner store – a small detail that explains a lot about the way she runs it now. What she’s created is a space shaped by her years in art, her connection to Orange, and her belief that regional creativity deserves to be seen without barriers.
How did you come to run The Corner Store Gallery?
I grew up here in Orange, and art has been part of my life for as long as I can remember, mostly thanks to my parents. They were the ones who nudged me into workshops when I was young, and they were the ones who encouraged me toward a Fine Arts degree when I wasn’t sure what direction to take. I studied at the University of Newcastle, and spent time teaching art classes at summer camps in the U.S., which taught me a lot about sharing creativity with people who didn’t necessarily see themselves as “artistic.”
When I came home to Orange, I worked as Artist in Residence at Kinross Wolaroi School for a few years, and that’s where the idea for the gallery started forming – well, the early version of it. Opening a gallery was actually my mum’s idea. I wanted to create a space where local and regional artists could show their work properly, and where people could discover original art without feeling like they needed to be an expert. The Corner Store Gallery opened in 2014, and it’s been growing ever since.
“I want people to feel welcome, not like they need to know the ‘right’ thing to say about a painting.”
What do you hope people feel when they walk in?
I want people to feel welcome, first and foremost. Not intimidated, not like they need to know the “right” thing to say about a painting. I hope they feel curious, and maybe a little bit delighted, like they’ve stumbled on something special in the middle of Orange. Whether someone is buying their first piece of original art or they’ve been collecting for years, I want the experience to feel the same: warm, relaxed and genuine.
Photos: Monique Lovick, Kirsten Cunningham and Madeline Young
What does it mean to run a gallery in your hometown?
Honestly, I didn’t want to move back to Orange. But when you get a paid job as an artist, you take it. It took me a couple of years to feel like I belonged again, to settle back in after being away. I’m so glad I did though. I’m a country bumpkin at heart. I don’t love crowds or noise, so the quiet, easy pace of country life really suits me.
There’s something special about the fact that I used to visit this exact building in the nineties, back when it was our local corner store. This part of Orange has always been mine, and now the building means something completely different – but it still feels like it fits. I love that I get to champion the regions through the gallery too, to show that we can do things just as well out here as anywhere in the city.
Orange has grown and changed so much since I moved back in 2011. It’s a genuinely great regional town to live in – easy, welcoming, and one I’m proud to call home.
“I’m a country bumpkin at heart – the quiet, easy pace of country life really suits me.”
What kind of artists or work are you most drawn to?
Originality is the thing I’m really chasing. I see a lot of art, and there is a lot of it out there, but when something grabs me, I just know. There are a million landscape painters, but when someone has their own voice, you can see it straight away. It’s not always something I can explain – it’s more a feeling. I’m not interested in trend‑chasing. I want work that feels considered, made with care, and has something real to say.
I’m mostly here to champion emerging artists – that’s a big part of why I do this. But I also love working with more established artists, and I learn a lot from them too. One of the best parts of curating a show is bringing emerging and established artists together in the same space. They end up cross‑promoting each other, building each other up, and the show feels stronger for having that mix.
Is there a moment in the gallery that’s stuck with you?
One that really stays with me is an artist who visited recently, on a road trip up from Victoria. She’d been a finalist in one of our art prizes a few years back. She came in to meet me and told me that being a finalist had kicked off her artistic career – it gave her the confidence to pursue it properly. She’s now having a solo exhibition at a government‑funded regional gallery in Victoria.
I know I’m not the only reason an artist’s career takes off – there’s always more to it than that. But moments like that remind me why I do this. Being able to give someone a small push, or help kick‑start their confidence at the right time, is one of the most rewarding parts of running this gallery.
Why do you think spaces like yours matter to the community?
Regional artists deserve the same platform as artists in big cities, and galleries like ours play a real role in making that happen. We’re not just a place to buy art – we’re a place where artists get to be seen, where people who might feel shut out of the traditional gallery world can come in and feel at ease, and where the community gets to celebrate the creativity happening right here in Orange.
Art belongs in everyday life, in people’s homes – not locked away as something only a certain kind of person gets to enjoy. That’s what I hope The Corner Store Gallery adds to this town.
Madeline has made The Corner Store Gallery exactly what she set out to build – a welcoming space that supports regional artists, and part of everyday life in Orange.
