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.
At a young age, Brom did not feel at place in South Carolina. She couldn’t wait to see the rest of the world which led her to spending time inside drawing, creating her own world. Her earliest memories of art came from the Gibbs art museum. She’d look at the 18th and 19th century portraits and come up with her own stories.
Prior to having kids Brom painted portraits and animals. She took a long break, but later got back into making work. Brom has always painted people. Figures in her paintings depict dramatic narratives with an underlying sense of mystery. Providing a little escapism is what Brom truly wants for her audience and it is consistently achieved.
Brom’s most recent series of paintings have a 60’s and 70’s aesthetic to them. Many of her subjects don bright psychedelic outfits while they appear to be trapped inside. The work is a reaction to the wild lifestyle and joy of the party culture of the 60s and 70s. Her work is constantly evolving and shifting to explore different paths that Brom has in mind. Hi-Fructose and Arrestedmotion have both published articles about her unique paintings.
“I think overall it’s because art is sort of a mirror of human existence. All of our emotions, dreams and experiences are reflected in art through the ages. Without necessarily thinking in these terms while creating it, the art we create is a record of our lives.”