Lea Wowra Oceanographer and journalist from the Ruhr Valley, Germany
Lea was born in 1999 in the Ruhr Valley, where she grew up. But since she finished school, she has mostly lived in South Africa and the UK. Lea studied Oceanography and now works as a freelance journalist.
She is also an aspiring writer and illustrator. She especially likes to write about how we are connected to everything that is hustling and bustling in the ocean. But sometimes she only wants to write a good story – preferably one that takes place on, at, or under the water. Lea has been living in Berlin since 2025.
What brought you to the arts/ your work?
Whenever my family went on holiday, goggles and fins were always came along. That turned me into a real water lover. But I also always wrote, painted and drew. After some time spent volunteering at a nature reserve in South Africa, I became more and more fascinated by the relationship between humans and nature. So far, my interest has gotten me a degree in Environmental Anthropology and Oceanography, a training course in journalism and many pens and brushes. I’m now trying to bring together writing, oceanography and art.
How did you come to take part in Cornelia’s artist in residence project?
During my bachelor’s degree and the Covid-19 pandemic I had the opportunity to do a feature on Cornelia for a journalism seminar. The interview turned into a personal conversation about my own work – oops! – and Cornelia invited me to come to Volterra. After several detours I finally made it there for the first time in the summer of 2024. I still can’t believe how lucky I have been to be a part of this wonderful community. And I’ve worked on my interviewing since.
How did you like your time at Cornelia’s in Volterra? Did you find inspiration there?
At Cornelia’s you feel like you can achieve anything. I think that’s because of the view of the open, Tuscan landscape – it just makes you think more freely – and of course also because of Cornelia and all her great guests. The nature is simply overwhelming. When you meet a green lizard, a bee-eater or a hummingbird hawkmoth while working, inspiration is never far off. And even though Volterra is on a mountain, I don’t feel like I’m too far from my element here: because if you keep your eyes peeled, you can find many fossilized oysters and scallops.
What did you take home with you?
Without Cornelia I might never have had the courage to take my own creativity as seriously as I do today. Cornelia is incredible at giving courage. Besides, I met so many great, creative people, I can now call my friends. So: a lot of courage, new friends and a healthy helping of delusions of grandeur!