Rancho Santa Fe Broker Associate Priscilla Wood, a prized member of the K. Ann Brizolis and Associates team, is excited to have launched "LIVE INSPIRED,” a recurring series of interviews showcasing San Diego's most interesting, innovative, and influential entrepreneurs. Showcased within the pages of Modern Luxury, San Diego's leading luxury lifestyle magazine, this month’s edition features Lorna York, owner of Madison Gallery--San Diego's preeminent Contemporary Art Gallery and a staple in the luxury art scene throughout Southern California. Within an intimate setting of York's home, the two discussed the power of visualization, building an international business, and the creative inspiration York pulls from her designer beach bungalow located in Cardiff, CA. You can read the full article below.
Live Inspired
Your Best Life Begins With a Home That Inspires You
San Diego is known for beautiful weather, world-class beaches, and an enviable lifestyle. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that our community attracts a wide variety of talent from multiple disciplines and is home to some of the most interesting, innovative, and influential entrepreneurs in the world. San Diego is no longer merely a destination but rather a launching pad for inspiration, creativity, and innovation. While our hometown residents have their own unique stories, there is a shared universal thread: A great love for San Diego.Inspiration starts with your surroundings: family, friends, a sense of place, an amazing view; it’s all part of what makes a space a home. As a Broker Associate for the world’s most notable luxury brand, I have been fortunate to represent properties that are as inspirational and aspirational as the individuals who live in them.
I have created a series of interviews highlighting influential leaders that are contributing to the changing landscape of the San Diego community. Within an intimate setting of their home, we learn what drives them, inspires them, and why they reside in San Diego.
In This Session
In this session, you will hear from Lorna York: Owner of Madison Gallery, San Diego’s preeminent Contemporary Art Gallery. Located in the heart of coastal Solana Beach’s Cedros design district, York’s gallery has been a staple in the luxury art scene throughout Southern California for over a decade. Although locally owned and operated, her impressive client base spans across the globe. What I have learned about Lorna throughout the years, both professionally and personally, is that this woman is a force. Her outlook on business and life are truly one and the same: Her life is art, her life is aesthetic, and her continued success is attributed to living a very intentional and purposeful life.
The Interview
PWB: You have always had a strong belief in the power of visualization. What is the story behind the creation of Madison Gallery?
LY: I was fortunate to have found a career that I love early on. Initially, I started my career on the East Coast and found myself in an environment that felt very unbalanced. I made the decision to move across the country and start my own business. It was a big risk. Replacing all negative self-chatter of “What if” with “This is what” was key. I had a very clear vision for what I wanted to create and named the gallery after my firstborn and only daughter. For the past 35 years, I have had the pleasure of representing some of the most talented and creative emerging, mid-career, and established artists from around the world.
PWB: You could have chosen any location on the West Coast to call “home” and start your business, why San Diego?
LY: The energy and scent of the Pacific Ocean have such a healing power and I knew I had to be close to the beach. Initially, I began my search in Santa Barbara and for various reasons, my journey continued to lead me south. The health-oriented, active lifestyle of San Diego resonated with me on a very deep level.
PWB: After 13 years in the Village of La Jolla, you moved your gallery to North County’s Cedros Design District in Solana Beach. What was the intention behind this change?
LY: I have been a North Coastal resident for years, so moving the gallery to Solana Beach really brought me home. Moving the gallery was a big decision and the timing was right. My vision was to create a Chelsea-like gallery within an environment that breathes art, culture, and entrepreneurship and I absolutely love the energy and vibrancy that this community has to offer.
PWB: We looked at many homes from La Jolla to Leucadia before you landed on this gorgeous home in Cardiff. You have literally transformed your space into the ultimate designer beach bungalow. What is one area of your home that inspires you the most?
LY: My home is my sanctuary: the place to re-balance, re-connect and re-invigorate the spirit l find inspiration in nature, my travels and the artists I represent; therefore, my home is a collection of all. I represent artists from across the world and am constantly in awe of how their culture affected their creative response to life. Of all areas in my home, I absolutely love spending time in my living room. This space is west facing so the coastal breeze is incredible. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame beautiful views of the ocean and Cardiff coastline. To me, nature is the ultimate aesthetic.