Baroque Dreams Beneath the Surface: Christy Lee Rogers Closes Myths and Legends in Spectacular Style at W1 Curates
Source: own archive
Last night, 3 December 2025, London witnessed the dazzling finale of Myths and Legends, Christy Lee Rogers’ breathtaking solo exhibition at W1 Curates. Oxford Street, one of the busiest avenues in the world, became a luminous underwater dreamscape as more than 300 LED screens displayed Rogers’ vast, cinematic compositions. Invited by The Lifestyle Agency, Avesso attended the closing celebration, which offered guests an unforgettable evening of immersive art, free-flowing champagne and a DJ set that amplified the atmosphere of visual magic.
Born in Hawaiʻi and internationally acclaimed, Rogers has forged a signature language between photography and painting, often drawing comparisons to Caravaggio for her mastery of chiaroscuro. Her imagery has captivated global audiences, including James Cameron and Disney, who commissioned her for underwater portraits of Avatar: The Way of Water. She is also a past Sony World Photography Award winner, and her collaborations span cultural giants such as Apple and Lavazza.
Oxford Street as a Sea of Light
From the moment we arrived, it was clear this was not a conventional exhibition. The façade of W1 Curates pulsed with colour and movement, Rogers’ underwater figures unfurling across hundreds of screens like a modern Baroque fresco brought to life. Passers-by paused mid-stride, mesmerised by the interplay of light, water and human form. Inside, the environment shifted into a more contemplative space: darkened, intimate and perfectly calibrated to heighten the emotional resonance of Rogers’ new body of work.
A Personal Encounter with the Artist
Before exploring the installation, guests were welcomed with a free flow of champagne, a celebratory touch that matched the grandeur of the evening. Soon after, Christy Lee Rogers herself joined us for a personal talk, offering rare insight into her creative process. She spoke candidly about the unpredictability of photographing underwater, expressing that “you never fully know what the water will give you.”
Source: own archive
Each image is, in her words, a surprise — a collaboration between body, light and fluidity. This uncertainty, she explained, is not only part of the challenge but part of the thrill. Rogers shared that the Myths and Legends collection took almost a year to complete. A self-described perfectionist, she included only the images that met her exacting artistic standards. Her intention was to create compositions that truly draw viewers in, making them feel as though they themselves are submerged — part of something vast, connected and elemental. “Water connects everything,” she reflected, describing her desire to evoke a sense of collective emotion and human universality.
When asked what comes next, she surprised the audience: she hopes to challenge herself by stepping out of the water and creating her next major body of work on land, a bold shift for an artist so closely associated with underwater photography. For collectors, original works from the exhibition are available to purchase, with prices reaching up to £32,000.
Inside the Exhibition: Myths Reborn Underwater
The installation itself reimagines classical mythology for the present day. Heroes, lovers, seekers and gods appear suspended in liquid motion, their bodies bending and dissolving into luminous swirls of fabric and colour. Rogers reframes ancient archetypes not as distant figures, but as deeply human beings caught in universal states of longing, courage, fear and transformation. Through her underwater lens, mythology becomes intimate, not a grand narrative on a pedestal, but a mirror reflecting our own desires and vulnerabilities.
Source: Studio 74
Studio 74: A Gallery Redefining Contemporary Art
Presented in partnership with Studio 74 Contemporary Art, Myths and Legends aligned perfectly with the gallery’s mission to present art as an emotionally resonant experience rather than a static display. Founded by Ellena at just 24, Studio 74 champions artists who challenge boundaries while staying grounded in human storytelling, a philosophy deeply reflected in Rogers’ work. Studio 74 represents Christy Lee Rogers exclusively in the UK.
A Mythic Farewell to Oxford Street
The closing event was as immersive as the artwork. A DJ curated a fluid, atmospheric soundtrack that echoed the cadence of the images, while guests mingled, lingered and returned repeatedly to favourite works. The evening had the energy of a celebration and the contemplative quiet of a gallery, a rare and beautiful balance.
Source: Studio 74
As the final images faded from the façade, one thing became clear: Myths and Legends was more than an exhibition. it was a moment. A shimmering intersection of ancient symbolism and contemporary artistry. A reminder that beneath the surface of chaos, beauty and connection remain. Christy Lee Rogers has given London a story of water, light and humanity. And for one night, Oxford Street became a myth unto itself.
More information about the Myths and Legends is available here: https://studio74contemporaryart.com/collections/christy-lee-rogers
