Fortitude Valley | You Really Need to Check Out This Unique Gallery
Author Shannon Edwards // Place New Farm
Fortitude Valley’s Winn Lane is a hive of activity for Brisbane’s creatives, or those seeking something a little different.
One of the retailer’s captures just this – in their graffiti covered shipping container The Culprit Club is a gallery space presenting unique, individual street artists whose creations are bound to grab your attention.
“At The Culprit Club our motive is motivation and our gallery walls speak loudly to all who are willing to listen,” says owner and founder, Sarah.
Walking down Winn Lane you can’t help but be drawn in to check out The Culprit Club. We asked Sarah how this all came about and what inspired the unique space.
How did the Culprit Club come about?
The Culprit Club was born out of an overwhelming love for the creative industry, particularly graffiti and street culture.
Over the years I had developed a slight frustration with individuals in the industry, who bring others down to build themselves up, as well as a generalised frustration with governing authorities spending more time criminalising art forms than they do supporting them.
Stemming from that, I had a fiery drive to make positive change in the Brisbane street culture scene.
What exactly do you do at the Culprit Club?
We host gallery events every month for local, national and interstate artists.
At The Culprit Club we sell independent artwork, publications and apparel, work to promote artists in our area.
Collaboration and community is really important in everything we do.
The Culprit Club builds a network of people who support each other and the industry.
What is your background? Has this always been a passion of yours?
My background is in creative writing and Journalism.
A lot of my inspiration to start a gallery came from my editor, Mark Zeilder of No Cure Magazine. For years he's been building his incredible publication and creating opportunities for artists.
Working with him was something I've always been really proud of, so I think my passion for creative writing is linked pretty intrinsically with my passion for the gallery, and in particular graffiti as its own art form.
In addition to this, I struggled seeing a lot of friends fail to receive any acceptance or support for their creative endeavors. I could never understand why such talented people didn't feel like they could succeed, or even feel the motivation to create because their art (graffiti) was only bringing on legal trouble.
I wanted to make The Culprit Club a safe and supportive space for artists of all demographics, and encourage them to do what they love - even if the push against them from authorities remains ridiculously strong.
What do you think The Culprit Club provides those who visit the store?
I think we offer up a lot of work that's not what you would find in any generic gallery.
The space and the artists we represent and exhibit all challenge people to think past the average and instead embrace the unexpected.
The space offers a pretty unique experience for both artists and audiences.
Winn Lane is a pretty unique location, what do you like about the alley way and area of Fortitude Valley?
Winn Lane has become our home, even in our spare time we just hang out there.
The Valley is filled with independent businesses owners, and it's a really close community of creative minded people who're all reaching for similar goals, which is really motivating and great to be around.
The culture for art and music really flourishes in Fortitude Valley.