Retta Robbins, a native of Virginia, has spent most of her life teaching and traveling. Her work frequently reflects both her Virginia background and her far-flung travels. She has lived and traveled extensively in Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the Far East. She holds a B.F.A from the Richmond Professional Institute (now Virginia Commonwealth University) and an M.L.A. from Johns Hopkins University, with additional graduate work at New York University. She has also studied in Florence, Paris, and Kyoto. Her long service to Virginia arts resulted in the Distinguished Service Award for Art Education, given in conjunction with the Kennedy Center. She also served on the Advisory Panel for the Virginia Commission for the Arts. Ms. Robbins exhibits both independently and with Exposure Unlimited, a group of Virginia artists.