During the period spanning from 1974 to 1978, Leeson embarked on the fabrication of a fictional identity and alter ego named “Roberta Breitmore.” This undertaking transcended mere physical transformation, encompassing makeup, attire, and wigs, ultimately forging an intricate and sustained personality. Importantly, this persona was substantiated by tangible evidence, from official documents such as a driver’s license and credit card, to correspondence from a psychiatrist.
Expanding on this premise, Leeson took it a step further by introducing three additional ‘Robertas,’ employing other performers to embody her character. These ‘clones’ meticulously adopted the same appearance, clothing, and even engaged in correspondence attributed to Roberta. They even ventured on dates meant for Roberta (Leeson). As the journey reached its conclusion, the ‘original’ Roberta gradually disassociated from her character, allowing the three ‘clones’ to carry on her work. This succession persisted until they were retired through a performance held at the Palazzo dei Diamanti in Ferrara, Italy, in 1978, coinciding with an exorcism at Lucrezia Borgia’s grave. The remnants of this endeavor endure as tangible artifacts, encompassing documentation and personal items such as legal and medical records, along with a diary.
Transitioning to the years between 1995 and 2000, Roberta metamorphosed into CybeRoberta, an interactive sculpture with artificial intelligence featured on the web. In 2006, Roberta Breitmore found a new incarnation within Second Life. Subsequent to the acquisition of her archive by Stanford University, Leeson collaborated with Henry Lowood from Stanford Humanities Lab to convert portions of the archive into a medium accessible to a broader audience. This collaboration led to the reimagining and reenactment of both Roberta Breitmore and The Dante Hotel within a virtual space.
