Lollo V.W. (born Laurence in 1970) is a French-born, Italian-raised photographer currently based in Cape Town, South Africa. Embracing her childhood nickname, “Lollo,” as a symbol of her playful and adventurous spirit, she has forged a distinctive voice in contemporary photography. Her passion for image-making was sparked in Milan, following her godfather, the photojournalist Nino Leto, whose influence instilled in her a profound respect for the narrative power of light and shadow.
Growing up in 1980s Milan, Lollo developed an instinctive eye for storytelling, but it was her fascination with the ocean and a youthful dream of marine biology that first awakened her sensitivity to the interconnectedness of nature and humanity.
In 2020, personal loss and global lockdowns prompted her to pick up a camera as an emotional outlet, transforming a private healing ritual into a defining professional turning point. Around the same time, renowned Italian fashion and celebrity photographer Carlo Miari Fulcis took her under his wing, becoming a driving force in encouraging her to explore her innate vision and creativity. She then worked behind the scenes on four of his shoots, documenting candid moments—the unpolished laughter, the camaraderie—that inspired her to seek the hidden stories behind polished beauty.
Since then, her practice has grown without boundaries. Moving fluidly from Intimate black-and-white street studies to bold, color charged portraits, each image searching for the moment when vulnerability becomes a form of quiet defiance. Through every shot, Lollo remains guided by a simple conviction: there is beauty in everything—ancient, powerful, and always present. Her journey is a testament to the resilience of the creative spirit and the transformative power of art. With each click of the shutter, she invites us to step beyond perfection, lean into imperfection, and celebrate the vibrant connections that bind us all.
Through her lens, imperfection becomes beauty, and silence speaks. Her work is a meditation on resilience, presence, and the boundless possibility of seeing with empathy and honesty.
