We LOVE These Paintings In Roq La Rue’s “Stepford” Show By Artist Laurie Lee Brom

September 29, 2022• byMichael Strangeways

Opening this Saturday, October 1st at Roq La Rue Art Gallery, 2806 Madison East down in Madison Valley, it’s STEPFORD a show featuring the work of artist Laurie Lee Brom.

These gorgeous photo realistic paintings of moody but sexy ladies of the early 1970s were chosen by the estate of author Ira Levin to illustrate the 50th anniversary edition of his classic horror novel, “The Stepford Wives”. Older movie fans will recall the chilling book and 1975 film adaptation starring Katherine Ross as a newly arrived resident of the charming Connecticut town of Stepford who starts to wonder why all the local housewives seem like sex crazed fembots only interested in pleasing their chauvinistic husbands.

(Spoiler Alert: They ARE sex crazed fembots!)

The book was also turned into a terrible remade film in 2004 with Nicole Kidman where they spoofed the material. It was ghastly. (Go check out the book and first film though!)

Brom’s delicious paintings are all of attractive ladies wearing gorgeous early 70s fashions and smoking cigarettes and drinking cocktails as they moodily stare out the window.

We want EVERY one of these paintings!

You can check them out at the opening night reception on October 1st from 6pm to 9pm (with artist in attendance!) and they’ll be on display through the 29th.

Via the website:

Roq La Rue is pleased to welcome back painter Laurie Lee Brom for her new solo show “Stepford”- inspired by the “Feminist Horror” tale by Ira Levin. In the classic story- a vivacious and creative woman moves with her husband an kids to the seemingly idyllic town of Stepford, only to discover that the men of the community have been secretly replacing their interesting and independent wives with docile, subservient robots.

While the story takes place in the 1970’s, it’s obvious that our culture has been taking leaps backwards to a time when the rights and bodies of women were controlled by a group of men slavishly devoted to the domination of their desires upon others, making this exhibit particularly potent.

In this series of paintings, several of the women have far off gazes and enigmatic expressions. However, some exhibit a sly intelligence. Momentarily caged, perhaps there are quiet thoughts of rebellion brewing internally.
This show will feature 7 new paintings. Additionally- these paintings are featured in a limited edition reprint of “The Stepford Wives” by Suntup Editions.
About the artist:
Laurie Lee Brom grew up in the historical town of Charleston, South Carolina, where a kaleidoscope of influence have continued to inspire her work till this very day, from local ghost stories and folk tales of the swampy Low Country, to psychedelic daydreams of her youth, to the punk-rock, counter-culture obsessions of her teens.

About the Author: Michael Strangeways

As the Editorial Director/Co-Owner, Michael Strangeways writes, edits and does about a million other jobs for Seattle Gay Scene, Puget Sound's most visited LGBTQ news, arts and entertainment website now celebrating its 14th year as a media outlet. A semi-proud Midwesterner by birth, he's lived in Seattle since 2000. He's also a film producer who would like you to check out the Jinkx Monsoon documentary, "Drag Becomes Him" now available on Amazon.com. In his spare time, he gets slightly obsessive about his love for old movies, challenging theater, "otters", vodka, chocolate, "I,Claudius", Lizzie Borden, real books made out of paper, disaster films, show tunes, Weimar era Germany, flea markets, pop surrealistic art, the sex lives of Hollywood actors both living and dead, kitties, chicken fried steak, haute couture and David Bowie. But, not necessarily in that order.