In a time of increasing social conservatism, political authoritarianism and economic uncertainty, arts organizations struggle to thrive. Here in Louisville, independent businesses struggle to thrive. Aurora Gallery and Boutique (1264 S. Shelby St.) is one such business, a professional and communal enclave for women, queer people, and creatives on the fringe. After two and a half years in their Shelby Park space, the owners have decided to close their doors.

Aurora Gallery and Boutique is a collaborative effort of Lyndi Lou, Alexandra Rumsey, and Mia Farrugia. The physical space is a thoughtfully carved niche for the macabre and the transgressive that cultivates an appreciation for the often-overlooked beauty of death and decay.

Raised on a cattle and tobacco farm in Kentucky, Lyndi Lou has since become a star in the constellation of the Louisville arts community. She is a tattoo artist and opened Mama Tried Tattoo Parlour (1052 Bardstown Rd.) in 2017. She is also a watercolor painter and a terrarium designer who constructs with plant matter, preserved insects, and skeletal remains.

Originally from Lexington, Rumsey earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Eastern Kentucky University and a Master of Fine Arts from Southern Illinois University. She is both a mixed media visual artist and a professional graphic designer. Death, funerary rites, and reincarnation are recurring themes in her work, while her motifs often recall occult traditions.

Farrugia is a mixed media artist with a concentration in jewelry. Originally from Detroit, she opened a local art boutique in St. Louis before relocating to Louisville in 2012. Soon after she arrived, she launched her jewelry collection, Dandelion. Her designs incorporate organic material like bone, tooth, antler, leather, and stone to inspire the wearer to connect with the natural world.

The three artists opened Aurora on Saturday, October 29, 2022. Their inaugural event was “Season of the Witch,” a group exhibition of masks and mask-themed art by local artists that became an annual event in subsequent years.

Since then, Aurora has curated events as aesthetically diverse as “Echoes of Endings” (with guest curator Bearykah Shaw), a pictorial exploration of trauma, loss, grief, and healing; candle-making workshops; and “Fever Dreams,” oil paintings by Jessica Chao side-by-side with “Ephemeral,” ceramics by Tiffany Phan.

In April, Aurora decided to close their business. Their final week will be Sunday, May 25–Saturday, May 31. Until then, the gallery and boutique will be open Thursdays 3:00–8:00 p.m., Fridays 12:00–8:00 p.m., Saturdays 12:00–8:00 p.m., and Sundays 12:00–7:00 p.m. The lease on the space will terminate Sunday, June 1.

“We want to thank all of the artists and customers who have trusted and supported us these past few years,” they said in an Instagram post. “Aurora would not have existed without you all, and we are forever grateful to all of you.”

Their final opening reception and farewell party will be Saturday, May 17, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. The last show, aptly titled “Curtain Call,” is a curation of work by queer artists from Louisville. “We thought as our final hurrah that it was important to highlight folks who are celebrating queer joy and living their truths in our community,” Aurora said in an Instagram post. “Today’s current climate is often scary and at times feels dark and uncertain. Let’s spend our last opening reception lifting up these voices and celebrating alongside them!”

“Curtain Call” will feature the work of R. Harless, Kobe Sawyer, Mia Farrugia, Damian R. H. Botner, a. e. Botner, J.D. Dotson, Lalana Fedorschak, Backyard Kiln, and Imani Burns. The work will be on view until Saturday, May 31.

Lou, Rumsey, and Farrugia said that their hope has always been to nurture a healthy and mutually supportive arts community in Louisville. “We wanted to have large, open submission art shows, making a space for folks of all backgrounds and skill sets to showcase their artwork, which in turn created a holistic and welcoming environment,” they said. “We feel we have done that, and hope to continue this work outside of the walls of Aurora as members of the Louisville arts community. This work does not end with Aurora!”

The space that was once Aurora will transmogrify into other creative spaces across Kentuckiana. Lou still owns Mama Tried Tattoo; she will continue to create her art outside of the parlor and be a guest curator for art exhibits around Louisville. Rumsey co-owns Pale Moon Tattoo (2209 Charlestown Rd., New Albany, IN) and will continue to develop her brand, Hekas Creative; she will also be a guest curator at local galleries and participate in regional art fairs. Farrugia will remain a dedicated and active member of the Louisville art scene with Dandelion, and will also participate in fairs and shows.

Aurora Gallery and Boutique will close its doors with gratitude. “Thank you again,” the owners said. “While this decision is bittersweet, we are so grateful for this experience, and we will cherish the memories we have made with all of you.”

Follow each artist and their work on Instagram to keep up with their future projects: Lyndi Lou, Mama Tried Tattoo Parlour, Alexandra Rumsey, Pale Moon Tattoo, Hekas Creative, and Dandelion Louisville.