Anne Pearce

Anne Pearce is an Associate Professor of Studio Art at Soka University of America, where she also directs the Creative Arts Program. She holds an MFA from James Madison University (1995) and BFA from the University of Kansas (1990), with additional studies in the UK. Her work explores emotional ambiguity, human-environment intersections, and abstract expression through painting, installation, and mixed media. Pearce’s exhibitions include major venues like the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art and the Corcoran School of Art. Notable awards include the Charlotte Street Foundation Visual Artist Award (2012) and Lighton International Artists Exchange Grant (2015). Her research emphasizes interconnectedness between species and natural phenomena, reflected in series like Tidal (2022) and Micro Myth (2015). She has held residencies globally, including UCROSS Foundation and Rimbun Dahan (Malaysia).

Her academic career spans over two decades, including tenured roles at Rockhurst University (2003–2018) and leadership in gallery curation. Pearce’s artistic practice merges abstraction with visceral themes, using ink, collage, and large-scale installations to interrogate emotional thresholds and ecological narratives.

• Education:
  • 1995, MFA in Painting/Printmaking, James Madison University
  • 1990, BFA in Printmaking, University of Kansas
  • 1988–89, Study Abroad, Brighton Polytechnic (UK)
• Awards:
  • Charlotte Street Foundation Visual Artist Award (2012)
  • Lighton International Artists Exchange Program Grant (2015)
  • Multiple Presidential Research Grants, Rockhurst University
• Exhibitions:
  • Recent solo shows at MDC Museum of Art + Design (2013), Sherry Leedy Contemporary (2015–2022)
  • Group exhibitions at Springfield Art Museum, Nerman Museum, and Invisible Dog Art Center