Jessina Leonard

Jessina Lynn Leonard is an interdisciplinary artist working across photography, writing, bookmaking and sculpture. Her work and research explores the intersection of religion, gender, power and the limits of human knowledge. In 2015 she graduated with an MA in religious studies from Duke University and in 2020 she earned an MFA in photography with distinction from RISD, where she was the recipient of the Henry Wolf Award for Photographic Excellence. In 2021–22 she traveled to Berlin, Germany with a  Fulbright Study/Research Award. She has exhibited her work at SomoS Art House (Berlin), ClampArt (NYC), A.R.E.A. Gallery (Boston) and the RISD Museum (Providence), among other places. In 2019 she was a resident artist at the Studio for Art, Faith and History (Italy) as well as the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (FL). She has taught visual literacy courses in Durham Public Schools (NC) and at Project Open Door (RI) and serves as visiting faculty at RISD and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University.