The Varo Registry was developed in 1996 by Robin Masi, MFA, Ed.M., Ed.D. candidate. Interested in using the new Internet technology to promote women artists, she named the site after one of the most respected artists in the twentieth century, Remedios Varo. Permission was granted by Varo's widower, Walter Gruen, to name the site after his beloved wife and to use her images for the promotion of women artists from all over the world.

Masi is a full time faculty member, Art Institute of Pittsburgh/Online Division , and an artist. Her paintings and charcoals in exhibitions in New England, California, Washington D.C. and New York. Her play Vanishing Point has been performed in Rome and New York. Masi current work includes a site-specific installation on the events around 9/11 entitled The Witness Project was on exhibit at the Fitchburg Museum of Art and Regis College's Carney Gallery. Masi's recent exhibits includes Trees I Have Known, Lawrence Percolator Gallery, Kansas City; and an Honorable Mention from Wearable Art, Lynn Arts Center. Masi's work was featured at the Bead 'n Fiber Gallery, SOWA, Boston in Summer, 2009. Masi received her BFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and Tufts University and her MFA from the Academy of Art College, San Francisco. In 2007 she received her Ed.M. from Harvard University's Arts in Education program. She is currently attending Boston University's Ed.D. in Leadership program. Masi's current research interest is the intersection between artists, ethics and creativity. A short paper presenting this topic is attached.

The technology and search engine was developed by C.J. Holmes, original Webmaster at Sonoma State University.