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.
Courses
Fall 2024 Courses
PHOTO 5312-01 - THE IMAGE AND SPACE AND TIME
LevelUndergraduate
UnitPhotography
Subject Photography
Period Fall 2024
Credits 3
FormatStudio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
PHOTO 5312-01
THE IMAGE AND SPACE AND TIME
LevelUndergraduate
UnitPhotography
Subject Photography
PeriodFall 2024
Credits3
FormatStudio
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2024-09-04 to 2024-12-11
Times: F | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PMInstructor(s): Jessina LeonardLocation(s): Washington Place, Room 024; Design Center, Room 308Enrolled / Capacity: 15Status: Open
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This course will wrestle with the mercurial and ever-evolving subject of Time-Based art. What is Time-Based art? Is it simply art with durational elements that unfold over the course of the work? Is it art that depends on time to define itself? Is it art that can only exist within the confines of regulated space? Is it art that stands firmly in the aftermath of what preceded it? Is it art that keeps time, wastes time, witnesses time, changes time, rearranges time, or records time? In this course, we will explore and welcome work being made under the broad umbrella of Time-Based work, such as: documentary photography, video art, experimental film, performance art, recorded happenings, social practice, and sculpture made with temporal dimensions. The course will operate as a studio course, with students being asked to present work for critique regularly, as well as weekly discussions of historical and contemporary investigations and demonstrations of Time-Based art.
Elective
Spring 2025 Courses
PHOTO 539G-01 - GRADUATE PHOTO THESIS WRITING
LevelGraduate
UnitPhotography
Subject Photography
Period Spring 2025
Credits 3
FormatSeminar
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
PHOTO 539G-01
GRADUATE PHOTO THESIS WRITING
LevelGraduate
UnitPhotography
Subject Photography
PeriodSpring 2025
Credits3
FormatSeminar
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2025-02-13 to 2025-05-23
Times: W | 1:10 PM - 4:10 PMInstructor(s): Jessina Leonard, Susan SolomonLocation(s): 15 West, Roger Mandle Building, Room 101Enrolled / Capacity: 7Status: Closed
SECTION DESCRIPTION
A Graduate Thesis is to be determined in consultation with faculty advisor by the beginning of the first semester of the second year.
Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Photography Students.
