Lunatix & Co. Finds a New Home Inside Gallery 450 in Downtown Mobile

Local artist and maker Courtney Matthews has relocated her boutique gallery, Lunatix & Co., into Gallery 450 — a shared creative workspace and co-op in the heart of downtown Mobile. The move places her eclectic mix of handmade and upcycled goods squarely inside the footprint of the city’s monthly ArtWalk.

From the Edge of LoDa to Its Center

Matthews’ previous location sat on the western edge of the LoDa entertainment district, just outside the reliable flow of ArtWalk foot traffic. A barricade erected to close Dauphin Street for ArtWalk even ended just short of her old door, cutting off pedestrians. The new space, at the northwest corner of Dauphin and Hamilton Streets across from the Haberdasher Bar, puts her inside the action.

Gallery 450, which cut its own ribbon the day before Lunatix & Co. opened, is already home to Crush Imaging Studios, LA Fotographee and Port City Realty, and features work from independent artists including Sherry Robinson, Kent Lynam, Richie Hayes, Walter Simon, Angela Harley, Ian Glass and MobCityMetals.

A Co-op Built for Creatives

The co-working model lets small businesses and freelancers share 3,500 square feet that can host up to 200 people — useful for rehearsal dinners, receptions, parties and corporate events. Matthews has already launched yoga classes and is planning belly-dancing instruction, plus ideas for a stage showcasing local writers and musicians.

On opening night during ArtWalk, the main floor filled with visitors browsing paintings and photographs while troubadour Walter Simon played acoustic guitar on stage. With regular shop hours and a permanent presence, Lunatix & Co. hopes to give the shared space steady visibility and offer the community handcrafted wearable art, books, soaps and gifts — all made by local artists.

About ArtWalk

LoDa ArtWalk, the free downtown gallery night that Matthews is counting on for foot traffic, takes place on the second Friday of each month, when galleries, shops and studios in the Lower Dauphin district stay open into the evening and portions of Dauphin Street are closed to cars.