From Digital Content to Virtual Reality Pioneer

Born and raised in Paris, Pierre Zandrowicz has spent a lifetime weaving art and technology into new forms of storytelling. His journey began in the digital content realm at the Parisian agency Premiere Heure, where he honed his eye for striking visuals and innovative narratives. This early immersion in cutting-edge media set the stage for Pierre’s bold foray into virtual reality. He became one of the first filmmakers in Europe to explore narrative VR fiction, making history with I, Philip – the first VR short fiction ever broadcast in France on ARTE’s platform. With I, Philip, Pierre invited audiences to step inside a story for the very first time, establishing himself as a pioneer who could bridge traditional cinema and new immersive mediums.

Immersive Narratives and Global Recognition

His dedication to immersive storytelling led him to co-found Atlas V, a collective of visionary creators devoted to exploring new frontiers in narrative art. Through Atlas V, Pierre has supported independent filmmakers in realizing their own visions while continuing to develop his own ambitious projects. Among these are The Dawn of Art, a virtual journey into humanity’s prehistoric cave paintings that earned an Emmy Award nomination, and Mirror, a mind-bending sci-fi VR experience selected for the 2020 Venice Film Festival. These works garnered global recognition, reflecting Pierre’s talent for marrying technical innovation with the timeless power of storytelling.

Following the founding of Atlas V, Pierre took on the role of creative producer for a slate of internationally acclaimed VR projects, including Alteration, Vestige, and Battlescar. In each of these works, he pushed the boundaries of how stories can be experienced, blending technology with the art of cinema. Utilizing novel techniques with a painterly attention to detail, Pierre has a unique ability to craft authentic, engaging experiences that add emotional depth to his narratives.

Exploring New Realities and Emotions

Even as the world slowed during the pandemic, Pierre’s creativity only evolved. In collaboration with artist Ferdinand Dervieux, he co-created What Is Left of Reality, an immersive installation that grapples with the haunting specter of eco-anxiety. In this piece, viewers wander through a multi-sensory landscape that echoes our planet’s fragility, experiencing firsthand the blend of art and advocacy that defines much of Pierre’s work.

Around the same time, Pierre turned his lens back toward photography — but with a high-tech twist. Embracing photogrammetry (the art of building 3D imagery from photographs), he began capturing the world in new dimensions. This exploration culminated in the debut of his first photographic art series at Les Rencontres d’Arles, France’s most prestigious photography festival. There, his images invited viewers to step into a captivating space between image and sculpture, reality and memory, further proving his knack for merging technique with emotion to create profound, immersive experiences.

A Continued Journey: AI, New Horizons & Honors

In 2022, Pierre embarked on a new chapter, moving to Brooklyn, New York – a move that symbolized his ever-expanding horizons. Before relocating, he won the Jury Prize at South by Southwest (SXSW) 2022 for On the Morning You Wake, a groundbreaking VR documentary that further cemented his place as a visionary storyteller.

Immersed in the city’s vibrant creative energy, he has embraced artificial intelligence as part of his artistic toolkit, experimenting with neural networks and generative algorithms to push the boundaries of film and photography. His recent film In Search of Time (co-directed with Matt Tierney) premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, taking viewers on a lyrical journey that marries cutting-edge technique with poignant storytelling.

Before his solo exhibition Ceremony, Pierre participated in Post Photographic Perspective, one of the first exhibitions dedicated to AI photography, curated by Fellowship (Post Photographic Perspective). This pioneering exhibition showcased the early artistic potential of AI in visual storytelling, reinforcing Pierre’s role at the forefront of the medium.

In March 2024, Pierre unveiled his first solo photography exhibition, titled Ceremony, at Squadra Gallery in Brooklyn (Squadra). This collection of AI-generated images explores ritual and mythology, highlighting the profound intersection of technology and humanity that defines his work.

Pierre is currently working on a TV series and a feature film, further expanding his cinematic universe by exploring new storytelling formats. Additionally, he is preparing his next exhibition, where he will continue his artistic exploration at the crossroads of AI, photography, and immersive media.

Throughout his career, Pierre Zandrowicz has remained deeply engaged with the intersection of art and technology, treating them not as separate domains but as a single, ever-evolving landscape of creativity. His lifelong dedication to pioneering new forms of storytelling has not only captivated audiences around the globe but also earned him one of France’s highest honors: Pierre was named a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres, recognizing the indelible mark his work has left on the cultural fabric. From virtual reality dreamscapes to AI-crafted visions, Pierre’s journey is a testament to the power of innovation fueled by imagination. He stands as a visual poet of the digital age – forever exploring, inventing, and inviting us into worlds we never knew before.