Robyn Lea (1988)
Internationally acclaimed photographer, author and director Robyn Lea has worked in many corners of the world with all kinds of people, from the very famous to fascinating locals.
Robyn finds a sense of belonging, regardless of where her work – or life – leads her.
One of the greatest joys in my work is connecting with others. I love finding an affinity with people that helps expand my view of the world and fosters my faith in humanity’s ability to find a way to thrive in harmony with our planet. With each assignment and each portrait, I learn something about the sitter, and sometimes while searching for an unguarded moment, I am able to capture an expression that feels like a window to an inner life.
At 18, Robyn began her career as a photography assistant in Milan, spending three years in fashion and portraiture before moving to Zimbabwe in 1994 to capture contemporary and traditional dancers. From 2011 to 2016 she lived in New York with her husband and their two children.
Robyn’s International Journey.
While living in New York I published a best-selling book with Assouline, Dinner with Jackson Pollock: Recipes, Art & Nature. This project marked a turning point in my career, which until then had focuwwsed on photography and directing TV commercials. Books provide me with the opportunity to write, which is a process I find both exceptionally challenging and immensely satisfying, says Robyn.
After completing the Jackson Pollock book, I was offered the opportunity to document other stories I’d always wanted to tell—those of creative women. I was interested in their work and in understanding the underlying drivers and influences that fueled their determination, often in the face of economic, practical, societal and domestic pressures.
I tackled these and other questions as I set off across the high desert plains of New Mexico for my next book project, Dinner with Georgia O’Keeffe : Recipes, Art & Landscape. I spent days doing interviews and research, then I’d traipse for hours with my camera across the soft pink sands of Ghost Ranch where O’Keeffe spent much of the later part of her life. I’d search for viewpoints to capture the cracked, dried lakes, chalky canyons and rocky protrusions, all blanketed with the ever-changing cloudscape that would roll across the sky.
In 2019, I began work on A Room of Her Own: Inside the Homes & Lives of Creative Women, which showcased 20 artists worldwide. From these fascinating subjects I learned new ways of thinking and being that have informed my life in meaningful ways.
I’ve also had the opportunity to travel frequently—learning all the way—photographing the palaces of Rajasthan for Vogue Living, taking portraits of Willem Dafoe on his New York rooftop in Wooster Street, and directing a short film on the shores of Lake Como with fashion designer Antonio Berardi for Italian Vogue.
One of my most memorable assignments was at the Kirov Opera in St Petersburg, which included a portrait of its infamous conductor Valerie Gergiev. I felt a deep affinity for the creativity of many of the local people I met on that trip. On one memorable occasion, I was invited to share pickled herrings and a homemade brew with the set builders of the Mariinsky Theatre while perched on wooden boxes behind the theatre curtains. I spoke no Russian, but we enjoyed ourselves immensely.
Robyn’s time at Grammar.
The art department was a dynamic place for me to explore what I loved the most: photography. I loved feeling like I was part of a creative ecosystem that fostered artistic exploration. The teachers were often practicing artists themselves. I was fortunate to have Margaret Delahunty as my photography teacher. She not only inspired my photography but provided an example of a creative approach to life. I also sought mentors in the photography industry and would make appointments with photographers in Melbourne and go and ask advice on my work. It was on those visits that I met Rennie Ellis and John Gollings who have become lifelong influences. My printmaking teacher, John Benn, and his wife Sara were enduring influences on my personal and creative life and work, and I am grateful for everything they offered me.
Breakout box
What belonging means to Robyn.
To me, a sense of belonging can be sparked by a range of diverse experiences. It can be a visceral reaction to the natural world. Or it can emerge as the result of investing time and energy in a community of like-minded individuals. There are strong bonds that exist also with my husband, children and various members of my extended family. Through my work I often connect with artists and designers who come from backgrounds very different to mine. Creativity is a bridge that unites us.
Acknowledgement of Country
Ballarat and Queen’s Anglican Grammar School acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we learn, live and work, the Wadawurrung People, and recognises their continuing connection to the land and waterways. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend this to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.
Commitment to Child Safety
Ballarat Grammar maintains a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of child abuse and actively implements measures to identify and manage any risks of harm to students within our school environment. The care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people are central and fundamental responsibilities of the School. We are firmly committed to fostering a child-safe culture that provides an environment where students are safe and feel safe, where their participation is valued, their views respected, and their voices heard in decisions that affect their lives. Ballarat Grammar values diversity and strictly prohibits any racist or discriminatory practices. All members of our school community share the responsibility to care for children and young people by promptly raising any concerns regarding their safety, promoting their wellbeing, and protecting them from all forms of harm or abuse.
