Leah Beeferman

Critic

Leah Beeferman works with digital image-making, video, text and sound. Her work explores and abstracts the shifting relationships between measurement and uncertainty as they relate to landscape and weather at a variety of scales. She has had solo exhibitions at Rawson Projects, New York; Sorbus, Helsinki; CO-OPt, Texas; and Arcade on Stadium, Utah. Recent two-person or group exhibitions include Helsinki Art Museum, Finland; Smack Mellon, Brooklyn; Fiskars Village Biennial, Finland; Sirius Arts Centre, Ireland; SOLU, Helsinki; The Anderson, Richmond. Upcoming solo exhibitions include Penumbra, New York; and Peeler Art Center, Indiana (both 2024).  

Beeferman has participated in many residencies including LMCC Workspace, New York; The Arctic Circle, Svalbard; Tiputini Biodiversity Research Station, Ecuador; Climate Whirl/Hyytiälä Forest Research Station, Finland; ArsBioarctica, Finland; Mustarinda, Finland; Digital Painting Atelier, OCAD, Toronto; and Sirius, Ireland. Her work has been discussed in publications such as BOMB, Objektiv, Temporary Art Review, Art in Print, Rhizome and ArtPulse. She has written artist texts for Contemporary Art Stavanger and Taupe Magazine. In 2022, Rooftop Press (Helsinki) published a written conversation between Beeferman and artist Tuukka Kaila: If you show me what you know, can I tell you what I see? In 2016 she published Triple Point, an artist book, with Lodret Vandret (Copenhagen).  

Beeferman received an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University (2010) and a BA from Brown University (2004) and was the recipient of a Fulbright Scholar Grant to Finland (2016–17). She is now based in Providence.

Courses

Fall 2024 Courses

FOUND 1003-13 - STUDIO: DESIGN
Level Undergraduate
Unit Experimental and Foundation Studies
Subject Foundation Studies
Period Fall 2024
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

FOUND 1003-13

STUDIO: DESIGN

Level Undergraduate
Unit Experimental and Foundation Studies
Subject Foundation Studies
Period Fall 2024
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2024-09-04 to 2024-12-11
Times: T | 1:30 PM - 6:00 PM; T | 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Instructor(s): Leah Beeferman Location(s): Market House, Room 207 Enrolled / Capacity: 20 Status: Closed

SECTION DESCRIPTION

Studio: Design promotes multidisciplinary studio experimentation across an array of media and processes. Students explore the organization of visual and other sensory elements in order to understand perceptual attributes and the production of meaning. Using various methods of expression, students may create objects, spaces, and experiences that demonstrate their analysis of composition, color, narrative, motion, systems, and cultural signification. Assignments allow for inquiries into scientific, social, cultural, historical, philosophical, technological, and political topics. Critical and experimental utilization of design principles, which underpin all of the arts, are emphasized. Students are guided through progressive investigations, in which the act of seeing is amplified by the study of physiological and cognitive factors that generate perception. Examined subjects are taken through stages of representation, abstraction, and/or symbolic interpretation to reveal essential communicative properties.

Enrollment is limited to First-Year Undergraduate Students.

Major Requirement | BFA

DM 7100-01 - DM GRADUATE STUDIO/SEMINAR 1
Level Graduate
Unit Digital + Media
Subject Digital + Media
Period Fall 2024
Credits 9
Format Combination
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

DM 7100-01

DM GRADUATE STUDIO/SEMINAR 1

Level Graduate
Unit Digital + Media
Subject Digital + Media
Period Fall 2024
Credits 9
Format Combination
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2024-09-04 to 2024-12-11
Times: TH | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM; T | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Instructor(s): Leah Beeferman, Mattia Casalegno, Stephen Cooke Location(s): Center for Integrative Technologies, Room 402 Enrolled / Capacity: 15 Status: Open

SECTION DESCRIPTION

This combined studio and seminar forum for Digital + Media first year students supports the exploration of theoretical, social, material, technical and contextual research and concerns in new media arts practices during the first semester of the D+M MFA program at RISD. Students are introduced to a core set of methodologies and technologies from basic electronics, programming and interaction design to installation, and are encouraged to break comfort zones through experimentation. Students conceptualize and discuss their work and ongoing practice. The course is a mix of group discussions, individual meetings, required lecture and workshop series, and group critiques. The technical workshops are opportunities for students to experiment and test out aspects of their research in order to develop a sound practice. Guest lecturers and visiting critics may join during other portions of the class time on occasion.

Estimated Cost of Materials: $100.00 - $300.00

Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Digital + Media Students.


Major Requirement | MFA Digital + Media

Spring 2025 Courses

DM 7102-01 - DM GRADUATE STUDIO/SEMINAR 2
Level Graduate
Unit Digital + Media
Subject Digital + Media
Period Spring 2025
Credits 9
Format Combination
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

DM 7102-01

DM GRADUATE STUDIO/SEMINAR 2

Level Graduate
Unit Digital + Media
Subject Digital + Media
Period Spring 2025
Credits 9
Format Combination
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2025-02-13 to 2025-05-23
Times: TH | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Instructor(s): Leah Beeferman, Mattia Casalegno Location(s): Center for Integrative Technologies, Room 402 Enrolled / Capacity: 15 Status: Open

SECTION DESCRIPTION

This combined studio and seminar forum supports Digital + Media first-year graduate students during their second semester as they research and develop the theoretical, social, material, technical, and contextual aspects of their emergent arts practices. Students are encouraged to break comfort zones and practice through experimentation. Students pursue and refine individual interests, as well as collaborative projects within the department. Students conceptualize and discuss their work and their ongoing practice. Readings in critical cultural theory, media art theory, philosophy, semiotics and other areas further support the contextualization and grounding of the innovative practical and conceptual approaches of students. Each student is responsible to select readings and works important as references in individual research and to co-lead a discussion on a set of self-chosen readings and artists' works during the semester. The course is a mix of group discussions, group critiques, and individual meetings. Guest lecturers and visiting critics may also become involved with this class in terms of critical/research aspects. Each student will practice articulating their art process and work towards their thesis, and will contribute to the dialogue concerning the research and work of their classmates.

Estimated Cost of Materials: $100.00 - $300.00

Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Digital + Media Students.


Major Requirement | MFA Digital + Media

CTC 2047-01 / DM 2047-01 - PAINTERLY DIGITAL IMAGES
Level Undergraduate
Unit Experimental and Foundation Studies; Digital + Media
Subject Digital + Media Computation,Technology, and Culture
Period Spring 2025
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

CTC 2047-01 / DM 2047-01

PAINTERLY DIGITAL IMAGES

Level Undergraduate
Unit Experimental and Foundation Studies; Digital + Media
Subject Digital + Media Computation,Technology, and Culture
Period Spring 2025
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2025-02-13 to 2025-05-23
Times: M | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PM Instructor(s): Leah Beeferman Location(s): Waterman Building, Room 33 Enrolled / Capacity: 12 Status: Open

SECTION DESCRIPTION

This studio elective focuses on creating digital image-based artworks. Students will be introduced to a wide variety of contemporary artists working between digital imaging, photography, and digital painting — and a range of technical possibilities for making and producing “painterly” digital artworks. Through several short assignments and one final project, students will experiment and then hone in on image-making processes that suit and expand their practices. These projects are complemented by readings and discussions which provide context for contemporary digital art-making: an exciting and ever-changing space for creative work.

Elective

CTC 2047-01 / DM 2047-01 - PAINTERLY DIGITAL IMAGES
Level Undergraduate
Unit Experimental and Foundation Studies; Digital + Media
Subject Digital + Media Computation,Technology, and Culture
Period Spring 2025
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

CTC 2047-01 / DM 2047-01

PAINTERLY DIGITAL IMAGES

Level Undergraduate
Unit Experimental and Foundation Studies; Digital + Media
Subject Digital + Media Computation,Technology, and Culture
Period Spring 2025
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2025-02-13 to 2025-05-23
Times: M | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PM Instructor(s): Leah Beeferman Location(s): Waterman Building, Room 33 Enrolled / Capacity: 12 Status: Open

SECTION DESCRIPTION

This studio elective focuses on creating digital image-based artworks. Students will be introduced to a wide variety of contemporary artists working between digital imaging, photography, and digital painting — and a range of technical possibilities for making and producing “painterly” digital artworks. Through several short assignments and one final project, students will experiment and then hone in on image-making processes that suit and expand their practices. These projects are complemented by readings and discussions which provide context for contemporary digital art-making: an exciting and ever-changing space for creative work.

Elective