PIER59 Studios Celebrates 30 Years of Creative Evolution

From film to virtual worlds, the New York studio that helped shape modern visual culture looks ahead.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 11:07am

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PIER59 Studios, a renowned production campus in New York City, is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026. Founded in 1995, the studio has been a constant presence behind some of the world's most recognizable images, performances, and cultural moments, evolving alongside the industries and technologies it serves. Over the years, PIER59 has hosted defining work by renowned image-makers, supermodels, entertainers, artists, and public figures, cementing its role as a crossroads of fashion, sport, media, and global culture.

Why it matters

PIER59 Studios' 30-year milestone is a rare accomplishment in the ever-changing landscape of visual media production. The studio's ability to continuously reinvent itself and adapt to industry transitions, from film to digital, motion to virtual worlds, and now the integration of AI-assisted tools, underscores its enduring influence and relevance in shaping modern visual culture.

The details

PIER59 Studios was founded in 1995 and quickly became a hub for large-scale fashion photography and editorial production. As the industry evolved, the studio expanded into film, television, advertising, live events, and experiential production. Today, PIER59 stands at the forefront of the next transformation, embracing real-time 3D, virtual production, and AI-enabled creative workflows. The studio has hosted defining work by renowned image-makers, supermodels, entertainers, artists, and public figures, cementing its role as a crossroads of fashion, sport, media, and global culture.

  • PIER59 Studios was founded in 1995.
  • The studio is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026.

The players

PIER59 Studios

A renowned production campus in New York City that has been a constant presence behind some of the world's most recognizable images, performances, and cultural moments for the past 30 years.

Federico Pignatelli della Leonessa

The Founder and CEO of PIER59 Studios, who has overseen the studio's continuous evolution and reinvention to stay at the forefront of visual media production.

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What they’re saying

“PIER59 Studios was never about a single medium. It was about creating an environment where artists and storytellers could evolve, from film to digital, from motion to virtual worlds, and where emerging tools like AI expand creative possibility rather than replace it.”

— Federico Pignatelli della Leonessa, Founder and CEO

What’s next

Throughout 2026, PIER59 Studios will celebrate its 30-year milestone with a year-long program featuring curated retrospectives of iconic imagery, large-scale anniversary events, experimental showcases using virtual production and AI-driven tools, and collaborative moments with brands, media platforms, and cultural institutions.

The takeaway

PIER59 Studios' 30-year journey reflects the evolution of modern visual culture, and its next chapter points toward a more connected, collaborative, and technologically empowered creative future, where the studio continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the industry.