While looking for rare Twin Peaks gems on Ebay, I found an auction for a limited edition giclee print of Laura Palmer from Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. The artwork was created by Lori Earley and I recall seeing the original at the film’s 20th Anniversary Group Exhibition in April 2012 at Copro Gallery in Santa Monica, California.
TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME 20TH ANNIVERSARY EXHIBIT AT COPRO GALLERY
From April 21-May 12, 2012, Copro Gallery, located at 2525 Michigan Ave T5 in Santa Monica, California, held a large group exhibition celebrating the 20th Anniversary of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. I’ve previously highlighted other works from this show including SHAG’s “An Old Woman and Her Grandson,” Bob Balistreri’s “Bob on Formica,” Eric White’s “Let’s Rock,”, “The Peek” by Scott C. and “Laura, Twin Peaks” by Owen Smith.
Founded in 1992 by Joe Copro, Greg Escalante and Douglas Nason, the Gallery serves as “an entity to curate art exhibitions of emerging artists and publish the highest quality limited edition prints.” A dedicated page to the Twin Peaks-themed exhibition is still found on their website today along with the press release above.
WHO IS ARTIST LORI EARLEY?
Born and raised in Westchester county, New York, Lori Earley studied at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, where she was taught the painting technique of the old masters from her teacher, artist Steven Assael. She earned her BFA and graduated as Valedictorian from the school in the 1990s.
“I loved the painting technique of the old masters, but was bored with the subject matter”, Earley explained on her website’s “About” page. “I wanted to paint things I’d never seen before in a realistic manner and push the boundaries of ‘realism’ so to speak.”
Earley’s signature authentic portraiture quickly earned her positive recognition. Her stylized, elongated subjects echoed Mannerist elements – an art style from the 16th Century with design characterized by “artificiality, elegance and sensuous distortion of the human figure – mixed with the dramatic lighting of the Baroque period.
She had solo exhibitions in New York City, Seattle, Los Angeles and London.
At the height of her success however, Earley stepped away from her art after being diagnosed with a rare, genetic connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Following corrective surgeries and a physical therapy program at the Mayo Clinic, she returned to the art world around 2021.
You can see more of her works by visiting LoriEarley.com or by following her on Instagram and Facebook.
“DELIVERANCE” BY LORI EARLEY
On the Copro Gallery website for the 20th Anniversary exhibition, Lori Earley’s “Deliverance” was offered as original artwork and a limited edition signed and numbered giclee.
The framed piece was created with “oil, acrylic mixed media and digital painting.” It measured 16-inches by 20-inches and was made using fine art paper. The signed original was sold for $10,500.
This is a closer look at the framed image of Laura Palmer with a faint outline of an angel.
Laura’s image comes from the brutal ending of Lynch’s 1992 film when she watches Ronette Pulaski set free by an angel.
A few years after the group exhibition on Oct. 10, 2014, Lori posted about “Deliverance” on her Facebook page saying, “Our conscious mind may lie to us, but deep within our subconscious mind lies the truth. David Lynch boldly takes you on an intricate journey through the haunted hallways and hidden rooms of the subconscious mind which we never knew were there. Lynch leaves us in both a state of confusion, yet complete understanding at the same time. Lynch is a true genius.”
This was made just a few days after the announcement from Lynch and Mark Frost about the show’s third season going into production.
The numbered glicee I found on Ebay is from the Copro Gallery show and is listed for $440. Considering I’ve never seen another one up for auction, this is a rather unique piece. The seller’s description is bellow:
LORI EARLEY “Deliverance”
Giclee Print of what Lori calls a “mixed media digital painting.” This print is the only tangible version of the artwork that exists (i.e. it was created digitally, this was not based on one of Lori’s oil paintings). It was printed on thick archival photo paper and does have that glossy almost varnished look.
Lori Earley went through a period of time believing she may not be able to paint anymore (due to severe health issues*). During this depressing time, she experimented and tried her hand at digital painting. As far as I know, this was her only publicly available digital artwork she ever released. And it is a masterwork. The “Deliverance” print is Lori’s harrowing depiction of the Laura Palmer character in David Lynch’s “Twin Peaks” TV series and “Fire Walk With Me” film. And perhaps Jennifer Lynch’s fictional “The Diary of Laura Palmer” which I also read back in the day : ) “Deliverance” was showcased in April 2012 as a part of the “Fire Walk With Me – Group Art Exhibition” at Copro Gallery, Los Angeles, CA. I purchased the first one.
- This is #1 of a limited edition of 20.
- Never been framed or displayed.
- Immaculate condition.
- Size: 16″ x 12″ inches
- Paper: Archival Thick Stock Premium Photo Paper Signed by Lori Earley
- .Includes a signed and numbered Certificate of Authenticity (COA).
- The thick photo paper is not something that can be rolled. Therefore it will ship flat.
This is Earley’s signature and hand-numbered 1/20 mark.
The seller’s certificate of authenticity provides the artwork’s measurements – 14-inches by 18-inches (which is a little different than what the seller included in the description). The Copro Gallery website didn’t have the measurements for the giclees but they were sold for $650/piece.
“DELIVERANCE” AT COPRO GALLERY IN SANTA MONICA, CA
While attending the exhibition opening, I photographed the original framed artwork in the gallery. It was located near the artwork of Carl Rodd by Eric White titled “Let’s Rock.”
I was captivated by Laura Palmer’s face and sadly only took two images that night.
Copro Gallery posted this photo on their website of people admiring the piece during the opening. I’m glad I arrived early that evening as the exhibit was packed by the end of the night.
That night was also the first time I met Sheryl Lee who played both Laura Palmer and Maddy Ferguson in Twin Peaks. She was among several start who attended the opening including Sherilyn Fenn, Kimmy Robertson and the late Lenny VonDohlen. It’s difficult to see in this photo but I’m literally having an out-of-body experience. Sheryl was so incredibly kind – a gentle soul filled with love.
Years later, I would spend time with her when she returned to the North Bend Theatre in North Bend, Washington for a screening of Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.
“DELIVERANCE” ON LORI EARLEY’S ETSY STORE
In 2015, Earley released the limited edition giclee on her Etsy shop – Lori Earley Studios. She shared the news on October 1 via Instagram.
A few weeks later, she made a second post on Nov. 22 via Instagram. Sadly, the giclees are no longer offered on Earley’s shop.
When I look at this art, I can’t help but think of Doc Hayward’s poem for Laura Palmer uttered in a deleted scene from The Missing Pieces:
The Angels will return.
And when you see the one
that’s meant to help you,
You will weep with joy.
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