In ‘Aqueous Renaissance,’ Christy Lee Rogers Conjures Beauty and Interconnectivity Under Water
“Harmony.” All images © Christy Lee Rogers, courtesy of Art Labor Gallery, shared with permission
In ‘Aqueous Renaissance,’ Christy Lee Rogers Conjures Beauty and Interconnectivity Under Water
September 2, 2025
ArtPhotography
Kate Mothes
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Born in Hawai’i, Christy Lee Rogers was fascinated by water from an early age. “For me, water has always been both chaos and freedom,” the artist says. “It strips away control and asks us to see ourselves in a different light. That’s where my stories begin.”
Rogers is known for her large-scale, maximalist photographs shot completely under water, suspending figures in the midst of billowing garments. Using a range of lighting effects and vibrant fabrics to compose dramatic images, her style is evocative of Baroque or Rococo paintings and murals.
“Candy”
Aqueous Renaissance, the artist’s forthcoming solo exhibition at Art Labor Gallery, showcases Rogers’ unique exploration of underwater photography throughout the last two decades. Tapping into the term “renaissance” as a period of revival or rebirth, she aims to highlight beauty and grace in our contemporary era marked by factions and division.
Rogers’ photos are achieved by submerging her subjects in dark water, which she illuminates with a range of lights. As the figures twist and turn, the light creates a dreamlike, painterly effect. “Her underwater visions are not escapist fantasies but mirrors of our collective condition—fragile, fluid, and searching for meaning,” the gallery says.
Aqueous Renaissance runs from September 6 through October 26 in Shanghai. See more on the artist’s website and Instagram.
“A Dream Blossomed Right in Front of My Eyes”
Image from Lavazza Calendar
“Our Hopes and Expectations”
“Tenderness”
“A Dream Dreamed in the Presence of Reason”
“Candy”
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