LOS ANGELES — One of the most renowned images of Fredric Roberts, an internationally acclaimed photographer based in Los Angeles, is now on display in the Bhutanese Mission to the United Nations in New York. The photograph, offered in honor of the 59th birthday of the Fourth King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, was previously showcased at the Rubin Museum in New York.

In 2000, after retiring from a distinguished 30-year career in the finance industry— including a term as the Chairman of NASDAQ during an important chapter in the organization’s history— Roberts launched his artistic career as a photographer and embarked on an extended tour throughout Asia, including a visit to the Kingdom of Bhutan. The donated image was captured during his time in Bhutan and was featured in Roberts’ inaugural photography anthology, Humanitas, a finalist for the Forward Magazine 2005 Book of the Year Award.

Roberts has maintained his connection with Bhutan through his Fredric Roberts Photography Workshops program. In January 2014, he assembled a team of world-class photographers to conduct a workshop for 20 high school-aged students who had never used a camera, empowering them to express themselves through the medium of photography. Over the course of the weeklong program, the students learned to use sophisticated equipment and computer software. At the end of the workshop, the students’ work was presented in the capital city of Thimpu at a public exhibition, which was attended by the Bhutanese Secretary of Education and local media; these images are available online at bit.ly/bhutanstudentgallery.

Given the success of this initial workshop, Roberts and his team are returning to Bhutan in January in partnership with The Bhutan Foundation and The Bhutan Center for Media and Democracy. There will be two workshops conducted during this trip: an advanced session for last year’s workshop graduates, and another one-week beginner’s course with 20 new students.

“It’s truly an honor to present my work to the Bhutanese U.N. Mission in honor of the King of Bhutan’s birthday,” said Roberts. “My workshops are a sincere labor of love and appreciation for this beautiful country. The program supports the important work of the Bhutanese organizations we’ve partnered with who are expanding opportunities for underserved children.”

Roberts is a resident of Brentwood and a longtime supporter of the arts in Los Angeles, currently serving as a member of the President’s Circle and Photographic Arts Council of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). His work has been recognized by the International Photography Awards, the New York Times and the Government of India, among others.

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