meet robert
Robert Gabriel Petrescu, born in Romania, has lived in and around New York City for over 30 years, since he and his family fled from Communist oppressed Romania in 1981.
Since a very early age Robert has been around the beauty industry. He recalls being 5 years old, at his mothers first day spa, Eliza’s European Nail-Care Salon, where he would help around the spa (as much as a 5 year old can help) and make drawings that he would sell to clients for $1 for candy! At age 15, Robert got his first job, working as a Shampoo assistant at Federic Fekkai in Bergdorf Goodman and then was promoted to Receptionist at John Barrett.
At 18, he embarked on a 4 month-long “Adventure of self-exploration”. Backpacking all over Europe, he discovered his love for Photography and its potential as a career, as well as becoming more invested in writing poetry, which continues to be a passion of his. Along his journey, he met his soul mate and long time wife Tamara.
Returning home, Robert studied at New York’s International Center of Photography. Driven by his passion for photography, he assisted notable photographers, Patrick Demarchelier and Michael Thompson. At age 21, Robert apprenticed with the late Richard Avedon for two years, which he describes as the most demanding job he has ever had, but also one of the most rewarding. It was with Avedon, that Robert discovered his eye for balance, proportion and symmetry of faces (or lack there of!).
In 2005, Robert began training in Eyebrow Design with his mother, Eliza at her Southampton Eyebrow boutique, Eliza’s Eyes House of Brows. Robert took a fondness to the craft almost immediately as it felt very creative and natural to him. Learning from the best photographers, working with thousands of faces, and of course being the son of the undisputed “Queen of the Arch & Eyebrow Guru” Eliza Petrescu, gave Robert all the right tools necessary to follow in the footsteps of the best. He continued to work along side of Eliza at the Southampton boutique, as well as in the Exhale Spa.