Wife-And-Husband Duo Open Montclair Art/Music Venue: 'Gallery L'

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Following a renovation at a vacant hair salon in downtown Montclair, a town known for its arts and music scene now has another venue to showcase its local talent: Gallery L.

“The dream is a reality,” said wife-and-husband duo Lauren and Luke Waldrum.

The Waldrums opened their new gallery at 543 Bloomfield Avenue last month to a packed house, brimming with “loud conversation, soulful live music from Julia Kirk and lots of drink,” they said.

The pair have a unique background. Luke Waldrum was born in Basildon, England, but has lived in New Jersey nearly his entire life. He attended the Art Institute of Philadelphia, and after three years climbing scaffolding in NYC, he landed a job at an ad agency in 2005, where he remains today. As a graffiti artist during the mid to late 90s, he spent “countless weekends painting walls and trainlines” for more than 10 years.

Lauren Waldrum was born and raised in New Jersey and went to college at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC to study fragrance. She’s traveled the world as a product developer for the beauty industry.

Learn more about the gallery and see a list of current events here.

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Photo: Gallery L