The Art of Romance

What makes a painting tell a story? How does an artist capture desire, anticipation, danger, or the shifting balance of power between two people in a single image? And what do we discover when we look beyond the book cover to the painting itself?

Join us for an evening of art and conversation celebrating Elaine Gignilliat, whose original paintings helped shape the visual language of historical romance during the 1970s, '80s, and '90s.

Featuring new additions to the exhibition alongside paintings already on view, the evening offers a chance to experience these remarkable works at full scale and discover the extraordinary artistry behind their familiar paperback covers.

Through a panel conversation featuring Gignilliat's daughter, Laura Sawyer, and voices from art history and the romance community, we'll explore how Gignilliat used composition, color, historical settings, and the expressive language of the human figure to capture the drama, desire, and emotional complexity of a story.

We'll also consider how these paintings reflect women's desires, choices, and inner lives, and what happens when we encounter them outside the conventions of romance publishing.

For devoted romance readers and art lovers alike, come discover the stories within the paintings and see the art of romance in a whole new light!

Event Details

• 6:30 PM: Doors Open – Grab a drink from the Lovestruck Bar & Cafe, settle in, and get ready for a great discussion!
• 7:00 PM: Discussion Begins – Panelists will dive into Elaine Gignilliat’s Holding the Moment collection.
• 7:45 PM: Q&A Session – Your chance to ask the panelists about the art of romance!
• 8:00 PM: Mix and Mingle – Chat with the panelists and other event guests! Swap opinions and insights on romance paintings, take a closer look at the collection or shop the store.
• 8:30 PM: Last call - Grab your final pour from the wine bar and head to the register for any book purchases.
• 9:00 PM: Event Wraps Up – Thanks for joining us!
  

Tickets are limited, so grab yours soon! If the event sells out, you can join the Eventbrite waitlist by selecting “Reserve a spot” followed by “Join Waitlist”. Should any spots open up, you’ll have 24 hours to register before we offer it to the next person.