Top 20 Finalist – PG/StabilityAI DiffuseTogether – “Playing for Time (Bright-Side Mix)”
Created using three of my original paintings, archival 8mm and 16mm film footage, text prompt engineering, and a variety of other tools.
Who I Am
I am an Augmented Reality artist, iPad painter, filmmaker, and technologist who started programming at the age of eleven. Having lived with Crohn’s Disease since birth, I’ve faced my mortality from a young age, setting me on a lifelong journey of emotional and artistic exploration.
My work captures complex emotional states using simple lines, vibrant colors, along with rhythmic movement and editing, while integrating technology to push the boundaries of artistic expression. Through the app I programmed, Daniel Leighton Art + AR, I bring my paintings to life using Augmented Reality (AR), animation, and video, creating an immersive experience that bridges fine art, technology, and storytelling.
My work has been recognized by leading art institutions, including:
- The Getty Museum (LA)
- Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA)
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
- Victoria and Albert Museum (London)
- LA Center for Digital Art (LACDA)
- San Luis Obispo Museum of Art (SLOMA)
I have also presented at Technarte and other international forums for digital and interactive art.
Shana Nys Dambrot, art critic, describes my AR work as “[turning] your device into a viewing portal into what it is tempting to describe as a parallel universe.”
Why I Want to Work with Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel’s music has played a profound role in my artistic and healing journeys. His ability to merge music, emotion, and storytelling resonates deeply with my own approach to creating art that explores human emotions, trauma, and resilience.
Music has always been my favorite art form to experience, while painting and filmmaking have been my favorite art forms to create in. I would love to combine his music with my artwork in a way that enhances and extends its emotional and narrative impact.
I am happy to share more of my work, participate in an interview, or do whatever is needed to demonstrate my ability to be a strong creative partner for Peter Gabriel’s artistic vision.
Examples of My Work
Animation Samples set to “I/O (Bright Side Mix)”
Angerman – A Film Concept by Daniel Leighton
Augmented Reality & Interactive Art Demo – Daniel Leighton Art + AR App (featured in major art institutions)
“Tied Up At The Hospital” Painting With Augmented Reality
These two short films are embedded in the AR experience of my painting “Tied Up At The Hospital,” which depicts a traumatic event from when I was five years old. The first film delves into the experience of trauma, while the second portrays the process of trying to reconnect after dissociation.
Paintings
