Thea Pitman

Professor Thea Pitman is a leading scholar in Latin/x American digital cultures and Indigenous studies at the University of Leeds. As Professor of Latin American Studies and Director of Postgraduate Research Studies in the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies, she focuses on decolonial approaches to digital art, Indigenous media, and environmental humanities. Her work bridges academia and practice, curating exhibitions such as Digital Natives and ORIGEM, which explore Indigenous representation in new media. Pitman has held leadership roles in organizations like the Arts and Humanities Alliance and the Standing Conference of Latin American Studies in the UK. She has supervised numerous postgraduate researchers and contributed to major initiatives like the Leverhulme Doctoral Training Programme in Extinction Studies. Her research spans over two decades, with key publications including Latin American Identity in Online Cultural Production (2013) and the upcoming Palgrave Handbook of Digital Latin American Studies. She is also a co-director of the AIAI project, exploring Indigenous uses of AI and digital tools while addressing ethical concerns.

• Education: PhD (UCL), MA (University of London), BA (University of Cambridge)
• Awards: Honorable Mention, ST+ARTS Prize 2019
• Grants: British Academy/Leverhulme, ESRC, LAHRI

Her interdisciplinary projects, such as AEI: Arte Eletrônica Indígena and INDIGENIA, highlight Indigenous digital innovation and environmental justice. Pitman’s teaching integrates decolonial theory, and she actively promotes South-South dialogues in cultural studies.