Leighton Pierce

Leighton Pierce is a Visiting Professor at Yale University's Film and Media Studies Program. He is an artist and educator focused on exploring narrative, cognition, and perception through video and sound. His multi-channel video installations have been showcased at prestigious venues like Sundance Film Festival, Pompidou Museum, and the Whitney Biennial. Pierce has received grants from Creative Capital, NEA, Guggenheim, and Rockefeller Foundation.

Prior to Yale, he held leadership roles at the University of Iowa, Pratt Institute (including acting dean of the School of Art and Design), and California Institute of the Arts as dean of the School of Film/Video. He transitioned back to faculty in 2019 to prioritize his artistic and pedagogical pursuits.

• Research Interests: Holistic video-making techniques, de-objectifying viewer experience, cognitive states through media.
• Exhibitions: Over 500 festival screenings and installations globally.

His work bridges technical and aesthetic innovation, emphasizing symbiotic relationships in video production.