From 29 November to 3 December, Oxford Street’s W1 Curates hosts Myths & Legends, a solo exhibition where Christy Lee Rogers reimagines Greek mythology through underwater photography. Across 300 LED panels on the building’s façade, figures like Aphrodite, Athena, and the Muses appear in motion—each frame captured entirely underwater without digital manipulation.
Presented by Studio 74 in partnership with W1 Curates, the exhibition pairs vast outdoor projections with accompanying large-format prints, fusing Baroque compositional drama with contemporary photographic technique.
Exhibition Structure and Presentation
Inside the gallery, monumental underwater photographs reframe the stories of heroes, lovers, and seekers with a contemporary twist. Rogers reimagines these ancient archetypes as deeply human figures caught in metamorphosis. The indoor works, produced on heavyweight cotton rag paper using archival pigment processes, allow close inspection of intimate details—the movement of fabric underwater, the positioning of performers, and the effects of light refraction.
“My purpose behind the work is to question and find understanding in the craziness, tragedy, vulnerability, beauty and power of humanity.”
— Christy Lee Rogers
By merging past and present, the visual artist uncovers shared emotions that bind us across centuries: the search for meaning, the courage to love, the desire to rise beyond limitation. These age-old tales, once told to explain the world, resurface as reflections of our own lives.
Rogers achieves this through a distinctive visual language rooted in painting traditions. Figures appear in transition, shaped by the properties of water, with anatomy rendered through gesture and motion rather than fixed poses. Chiaroscuro defines space and tone, while natural imperfections—bubbles, subtle blurs, and refraction—become integral to the composition. Using water and light instead of paint and canvas, she constructs each frame through performance, lighting, and timing rather than digital manipulation.
Technical Process
Christy Lee Rogers pioneered her underwater photography well before it gained widespread popularity, initially using the Pacific Ocean around her native Hawaii as her studio. Growing up in the ocean environment, she honed her craft by shooting with disposable cameras and experimenting extensively with the movement of water and the behaviour of light over many years.
To bring her vision to life, Rogers collaborates closely with performers who, relying on breath control, execute carefully rehearsed sequences underwater. Each frame is captured live by Rogers from above the water’s surface with a medium-format Fujifilm GFX 100 camera, where she orchestrates the interaction of performers, flowing fabric, and shifting water into a single composition.
This demanding process requires exceptional precision and stamina, as performers maintain control amid swirling garments and ever-changing underwater conditions. To create effects that recall Renaissance painting, lighting rigs are carefully arranged to mimic the natural fall of sunlight, while costume materials are chosen for their unique underwater qualities—silk flows with deliberate grace, organza diffuses light softly, and gauze holds enough structure to suggest subtle motion. The natural refraction of light underwater provides organic distortion.
Recognition and Major Commissions
Rogers was named Open Photographer of the Year at the Sony World Photography Awards and was a two-time finalist for the Contemporary Talents Award from the Fondation François Schneider in France
Her work has been commissioned by major clients, including Apple—notably for underwater images shot with the iPhone 11 Pro—and by James Cameron, creating underwater portraits of cast members from Avatar: The Way of Water. These high-profile projects demonstrate how well her technique translates across diverse contexts—from fine art galleries to global brand campaigns.
Rogers’ images are held in public and private collections worldwide, including the Cinémathèque Française in Paris and Longleat House in the UK. Her photography has been exhibited internationally, with shows in Paris, London, Los Angeles, Shanghai, São Paulo, and Mexico City, and featured in publications such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar Art China, Elle Decoration, Photo Technique, and Photo Korea.
Closing Note
Christy Lee Rogers has established herself as a distinctive voice in contemporary photography. Her visual language evokes Baroque masters like Caravaggio and Rubens, with dramatic chiaroscuro and dynamic compositions, yet her perspective remains contemporary. Her commitment to in-camera capture and physical process, combined with her innovative use of light, movement, and water, creates images that stand apart in contemporary photography. The exhibition at W1 Curates presents an opportunity to experience the technical mastery and emotional depth that define her work.
To explore further, visit the official website of Christy Lee Rogers, follow her creative journey on Instagram, and discover more at Studio 74.
Exhibition Details
Myths & Legends
29 November – 3 December 2025
W1 Curates, 161-167 Oxford Street, London, W1D 2JP
Free admission, 9am – 10pm daily
Closing party & artist talk: 3 December, 7–9pm (RSVP via email).
