Seattle Belltown Roq La Rue Gallery

This photo shows the entrance to Roq La Rue Gallery during its time in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood. Founded by Kirsten Anderson in 1998, Roq La Rue was a pioneering gallery that became internationally recognized for championing the burgeoning Pop Surrealism and Lowbrow art movements.

The gallery provided a crucial platform for a new generation of artists whose work was often countercultural, provocative, and informed by everything from street art and comics to tiki and Kustom Kulture. For years, its location at 2312 2nd Avenue in Belltown was a hub for this vibrant and accessible art scene, drawing crowds to its often-packed opening nights.

Over the years, Roq La Rue has moved to different locations, including Pioneer Square and its current home near the Olympic Sculpture Park, but its roots in Belltown mark a significant chapter in the history of Seattle’s alternative art world. It remains an influential force in contemporary art.