Sue Tilley was a benefits supervisor when she became famous for being painted by Lucian Freud. Although she worked for the government, she also believed in the rights of the LGBTQ community, which society did not frown upon. She was friends with Leigh Bowery who was a trans, gay rights activist who was also a model for Lucian Freud. Bowery also owned a nightclub called “Nightclub Taboo”. Tilley and Bowery met in 1982 at a nightclub but after they met she began working at the nightclub Bowery owned as a cashier. The nightclub Taboo was known for allowing individuals to embrace their sexuality in a confined space but also to embrace polysexual identities. Bowery caught Lucian's attention by the way he “took the New Romantic penchant for dressing up to the level of art” according to The Last Tuesday Society.  Bowery then introduced Sue Tilley to Lucian Freud.  The event shows Sue Tilley was not one to follow in society's footsteps but rather explore the boundaries she can push to see what society can accept. At this time many paintings were of slim women with a female gaze upon the viewer to show sexualization towards the female. This painting of Sue Tilley is of a woman who wants the viewers to see she is comfortable enough in her flesh to seem like she is falling asleep completely nude knowing she is being gazed upon while also not looking like many of society's models. Another significant event at this time was the legalization of LGBTQ rights. For instance, during the 1980’s many individuals were trying to lower the age of consensual sex for gay individuals along with many other movements and rights being affected. 

Works cited

Hale, Amy. “Leigh Bowery: The Life and Times of an Icon by Sue Tilley.” The Last Tuesday Society, 4 September 2022, https://www.thelasttuesdaysociety.org/event/leigh-bowery-the-life-and-ti.... Accessed 1 April 2024.