Lela Pierce

Lela Pierce serves as an Assistant Professor of Art within the Art & Art History Department at Macalester College, where she teaches Sculpture I & II, Art Activation, and 3D Design. A dedicated Macalester alumna (class of 2008) with a BA in Studio Art, she further developed her expertise through an MFA from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (2022) specializing in Interdisciplinary Art and Social Practice.

Her academic foundation includes:

• Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art from Macalester College (2008)
• Master of Fine Arts from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (2022) in Interdisciplinary Art and Social Practice

Pierce's research critically investigates ecological and social dynamics through sculpture, 3D design, painting, performance, and installation art. Her work interrogates the politics of invasive plant species as metaphors for human migration and displacement, while recent explorations focus on geometric transformations of the corporeal body. This interdisciplinary approach creates immersive experiences that challenge conventional boundaries between art, ecology, and social justice.

Her distinguished recognition includes:

• Jerome Emerging Artist Fellowship in Visual Arts (2018)
• Jerome Hill Artist Fellow in Visual Arts (2023)

With international exhibitions at Kalmar Konstmuseum in Sweden and venues across India, alongside prominent Twin Cities presentations, Pierce bridges global artistic dialogues. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes studio-based experimentation as a catalyst for community engagement, transforming material practice into powerful commentary on contemporary socio-ecological crises through collaborative and conceptually rigorous methodologies.