Audrey Cooper, who is about to turn 98, continues to run the Art With Panache gallery in downtown London, Ontario, which she opened at age 86. The gallery, located in the Talbot Centre, showcases local artists who can hang their work for free, with Cooper taking a commission on sales. Cooper, a self-taught painter of 'urban folk art,' shifted from painting to promoting other artists, building the business through personal connections.
This story matters because it highlights the vitality and entrepreneurial spirit of older adults in the arts, challenging assumptions about age and retirement. Cooper's gallery provides a low-barrier platform for emerging local artists, fostering community engagement with original art in a mid-sized Canadian city. Her journey from a limited career path for women in the early 20th century to becoming a gallerist in her late 80s underscores the transformative power of art and lifelong creativity.