Leonardo (journal)

Leonardo (journal)
Title	Leonardo
Discipline	Art and science, interdisciplinary studies
Editor	Roger F. Malina
Publisher	MIT Press
Country	United States
History	1968–present
Frequency	Bimonthly
Openaccess	Hybrid
Impact	1.0
Impact-year	2022
ISSN	0024-094X
EISSN	1530-9282
Website	https://direct.mit.edu/leon
OCLC	1754755

Leonardo (journal). It is a leading peer-reviewed academic journal dedicated to the application of contemporary science and technology to the arts, music, and new media forms. Founded in 1968 by kinetic artist and astronomer Frank J. Malina, the publication serves as a critical international forum for artists, researchers, and scholars working at the intersection of art, science, and technology. The journal is published by MIT Press and is the flagship publication of Leonardo/ISAST.

History and background

The journal was established in 1968 by Frank J. Malina, an American aerospace engineer and pioneer of kinetic art, who sought to create a rigorous publication documenting the work of artists engaging with science. Its founding was closely associated with the activities of the Experiments in Art and Technology (E.A.T.) group and the burgeoning computer art movement of the late 1960s. Following Malina's death, editorial leadership passed to his son, Roger F. Malina, an astrophysicist and executive editor, who has guided the journal's expansion into new interdisciplinary fields. The journal's establishment coincided with seminal exhibitions like Cybernetic Serendipity at the Institute of Contemporary Arts and has been historically connected to organizations such as the Pasadena Art Museum.

Scope and publication details

*Leonardo* covers a wide array of topics including digital art, bioart, sound art, artificial intelligence in creative practice, nanotechnology, and the philosophical and historical contexts of art-science interactions. It features full-length scholarly articles, artist's notes, theoretical perspectives, and reviews of relevant events, books, and exhibitions. The journal is published bimonthly, both in print and electronically, by MIT Press as part of its prestigious catalog. It operates a hybrid open-access model and its content is indexed in major databases including Scopus, the Arts & Humanities Citation Index, and Project MUSE.

Editorial structure and peer review

The journal operates under the guidance of an executive editor, currently Roger F. Malina, and is supported by a distinguished international editorial board comprising leading figures from both the arts and sciences. This board includes practitioners from institutions like the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, University of California, Santa Cruz, and Goldsmiths, University of London. All research articles undergo a rigorous double-blind peer-review process managed by the editorial staff and board, ensuring scholarly integrity and relevance to the journal's interdisciplinary mission. Special issues are often guest-edited by experts on emerging topics such as climate change art or wearable technology.

Impact and recognition

*Leonardo* is widely regarded as the seminal journal in its field, with an impact factor that reflects its influence across disciplines including Visual Arts, Engineering, and Computer Science. It has received sustained support from foundations like the Rockefeller Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. The journal's associated organization, Leonardo/ISAST (The International Society for the Arts, Sciences and Technology), further amplifies its impact through awards, conferences, and the Leonardo Book Series. Its archives serve as a vital historical record of the development of technological arts from the late 20th century to the present.

Notable articles and contributors

Over its long history, the journal has published groundbreaking work by pioneering artists and theorists. Early contributors included György Kepes, founder of the Center for Advanced Visual Studies at MIT, and Billy Klüver, co-founder of Experiments in Art and Technology. Notable articles have explored themes from virtual reality and holography to generative music and robotics. Contemporary influential contributors have included artists and researchers such as Stelarc, Eduardo Kac, Ruth West, and Christa Sommerer, whose writings on interactive art and artificial life have been formative.

Related publications and initiatives

*Leonardo* is the cornerstone of a larger family of publications and programs managed by Leonardo/ISAST. These include the companion journal Leonardo Music Journal (LMJ), which focuses on sound and music, and the online publication Leonardo Electronic Almanac. The society also publishes the Leonardo Book Series with MIT Press and bestows several awards, including the prestigious Leonardo da Vinci World Award of Arts. Related initiatives include collaborations with major conferences like ISEA (International Symposium on Electronic Art) and the Ars Electronica festival in Linz.

Category:Art journals Category:Science and technology studies journals Category:MIT Press academic journals Category:Publications established in 1968