James Pearse Connelly

James Pearse Connelly is an Emmy-winning production designer acclaimed for his work on iconic shows such as NBC's The Voice, Bravo's Top Chef, Netflix's Nailed It! and more.

In 2009, Connelly was honored with his first Primetime Emmy Award for his work on the MTV Video Music Awards. In the years following, he has been recognized for his bold production design with seven additional Primetime Emmy nominations and seven Art Directors Guild Award nominations for shows including Netflix's Bill Nye Saves The World and NBC's The Voice.

James Pearse Connelly is an Emmy-winning production designer acclaimed for his work on iconic shows such as NBC's The Voice, Bravo's Top Chef, Netflix's Nailed It! and more.

In 2009, Connelly was honored with his first Primetime Emmy Award for his work on the MTV Video Music Awards. In the years following, he has been recognized for his bold production design with seven additional Primetime Emmy nominations and seven Art Directors Guild Award nominations for shows including Netflix's Bill Nye Saves The World and NBC's The Voice.

Connelly is one of the leading production designers in alternative television designing for an array of television genres - from competition to variety to late night to live spectacle. Additional credits include The Masked Singer, Making It, Songland, Holey Moley, Project Runway, Million Dollar Mile, The World's Best, Martha and Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party, The Jim Jefferies Show, Teen Choice Awards, and Top Chef. Connelly also served as principal art director on the 2010 Oscar-nominated feature film The Kids Are All Right.

Additionally, Connelly's creative design company JPConnelly specializes in design for special events, residential and commercial projects and promotional experiential activations for companies like Twitter, ABC and Dubsmash. JPConnelly prides itself on its use of storytelling techniques to create innovative, immersive environments.

A dedicated member of the Television Academy since 2007, Connelly has served an active role on the Peer Group Executive Committee for Art Directors and Set Decorators and served as Governor between 2013 - 2018 and is currently serving as a Chairman of the Primetime Emmy Show Committee.

updated 5.29.19

Show more

Awards & Nominations

13 Nominations | 1 Emmy
Outstanding Production Design For A Variety, Reality Or Competition Series - 2021
  • Nominee
  • James Pearse Connelly, Production Designer
  • The Masked Singer
  • "The Season Premiere - The Masks Return"
  • FOX
  • FOX Alternative Entertainment
Outstanding Production Design For A Variety, Reality Or Competition Series - 2019
  • Nominee
  • James Pearse Connelly, Production Designer
  • The Voice
  • "Live Cross Battles Part 1"
  • NBC
  • MGM Television, Talpa Media USA, Inc. and Warner Horizon Unscripted & Alternative Television
Outstanding Production Design For A Variety, Reality Or Reality-Competition Series - 2018
  • Nominee
  • James Pearse Connelly, Production Designer
  • The Voice
  • "The Blind Auditions Season Premiere"
  • NBC
  • MGM Television, Talpa Media USA, Inc., Warner Horizon Unscripted & Alternative Television
Outstanding Production Design For A Variety, Reality Or Reality-Competition Series - 2018
  • Nominee
  • James Pearse Connelly, Production Designer
  • Bill Nye Saves The World
  • "Extinction: Why All Our Friends Are Dying"
  • Netflix
  • Bunim/Murray Productions
Outstanding Production Design for Variety, Nonfiction, Reality or Reality-Competition Programming - 2017
  • Nominee
  • James Pearse Connelly, Production Designer
  • Bill Nye Saves The World
  • "Earth Is A Hot Mess"
  • Netflix
  • Bunim/Murray Productions
Outstanding Production Design for Variety, Nonfiction, Reality or Reality-Competition Programming - 2017
  • Nominee
  • James Pearse Connelly, Production Designer
  • The Voice
  • "Live Finale, Part 1"
  • NBC
  • MGM Television, Talpa Media USA, Inc. and Warner Horizon Unscripted & Alternative Television
Outstanding Production Design For A Variety, Nonfiction, Reality or Reality-Competition Series - 2016
  • Nominee
  • James Pearse Connelly, Production Designer
  • The Voice
  • "Live Finale (Part 2), The Blind Auditions Premiere (Part 2), Live Semifinal Performances"
  • NBC
  • MGM Television, Talpa Media USA, Inc. and Warner Horizon Television
Outstanding Production Design For Variety, Nonfiction, Reality or Reality-Competition Programming - 2015
  • Nominee
  • James Pearse Connelly, Production Designer
  • The Voice
  • "Episode 701"
  • NBC
  • United Artists Media Group, Talpa Media USA Inc. and Warner Horizon Television
Outstanding Art Direction For Variety Or Nonfiction Programming - 2013
  • Nominee
  • James Pearse Connelly
  • The Voice
  • "Battle Rounds (Part 1), The Live Shows, Semi-Finals, The Blind Auditions (Part 1)"
  • NBC
  • One Three Inc. (a Hearst/Mark Burnett company), Talpa Media USA, Inc. and Warner Horizon Television
Outstanding Art Direction For Variety Or Nonfiction Programming - 2012
  • Nominee
  • James Connelly
  • The Voice
  • "Blind Auditions (Part 2), Battle Rounds (Part 1), Live Shows (Part 4)"
  • NBC
  • One Three Inc. (a Hearst/Mark Burnett company), Talpa Media USA, Inc. and Warner Horizon Television
Outstanding Art Direction For Variety, Music Or Nonfiction Programming - 2009

The Television Academy database lists prime-time Emmy information. Click here to learn more

2019 Art Directors & Set Decorators Nominee Reception
James Pearse Connelly
James Pearse Connelly
2018 Art Directors and Set Decorators Nominee Reception
2018 Art Directors and Set Decorators Nominee Reception
2018 Art Directors and Set Decorators Nominee Reception
2018 Art Directors and Set Decorators Nominee Reception
2017 Art Directors/Set Decorators Nominee Reception
2017 Art Directors/Set Decorators Nominee Reception
2017 Art Directors/Set Decorators Nominee Reception
2017 Art Directors/Set Decorators Nominee Reception
2017 Art Directors/Set Decorators Nominee Reception
2017 Art Directors/Set Decorators Nominee Reception
2017 Art Directors/Set Decorators Nominee Reception
2017 Art Directors/Set Decorators Nominee Reception
2017 Art Directors/Set Decorators Nominee Reception
2017 Art Directors/Set Decorators Nominee Reception
James Pearse Connelly on the red carpet at the 2016 Creative Arts Emmys.
Fill 1
Fill 1
2019 Art Directors & Set Decorators Nominee Reception
Camera

James Pearse Connelly and Adam Rowe at the 2019 Art Directors & Set Decorators Nominee Reception on Thursday, August 29, 2019 at the Television Academy in North Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP
James Pearse Connelly
Camera

James Pearse Connelly and guest at the 2018 Creative Arts Ball. 

Invision/AP
James Pearse Connelly
Camera

James Pearse Connelly on the red carpet at the 2018 Creative Arts Emmys.

Invision/AP
2018 Art Directors and Set Decorators Nominee Reception
Camera

Allison Binder, Susan Nessenbaum-Goldberg, Television Academy Governor James Pearse Connelly, and Wallie Wachter at the 2018 Art Directors and Set Decorators Nominee Reception at the Television Academy's Saban Media Center on Thursday, August 30, 2018 in North Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP
2018 Art Directors and Set Decorators Nominee Reception
Camera

Television Academy Governor Terry Ann Gordon, Mallory Gabbard, Television Academy Governor James Pearse Connelly, and Edina Hiser at the 2018 Art Directors and Set Decorators Nominee Reception at the Television Academy's Saban Media Center on Thursday, August 30, 2018 in North Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP
2018 Art Directors and Set Decorators Nominee Reception
Camera

Lydia Smyth, Television Academy Governor James Pearse Connelly, and Stephanie Hines at the 2018 Art Directors and Set Decorators Nominee Reception at the Television Academy's Saban Media Center on Thursday, August 30, 2018 in North Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP
2018 Art Directors and Set Decorators Nominee Reception
Camera

Television Academy Governors James Pearse Connelly and Halina Siwolop at the 2018 Art Directors and Set Decorators Nominee Reception at the Television Academy's Saban Media Center on Thursday, August 30, 2018 in North Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP
2017 Art Directors/Set Decorators Nominee Reception
Camera

Television Academy Governors Barbara Cassel and James Pearse Connelly, Chloe Arbiter, Monica Sotto and Rae Deslich attend the Television Academy’s Art Directors/Set Decorators Emmy Nominee Reception in the Saban Media Center at the Television Academy’s NoHo Arts District Campus on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017 in Los Angeles.

Invision/AP
2017 Art Directors/Set Decorators Nominee Reception
Camera

Television Academy Governors Barbara Cassel and James Pearse Connelly, Devorah Herbert and Emily Ferry attend the Television Academy’s Art Directors/Set Decorators Emmy Nominee Reception in the Saban Media Center at the Television Academy’s NoHo Arts District Campus on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017 in Los Angeles.

Invision/AP
2017 Art Directors/Set Decorators Nominee Reception
Camera

Television Academy Governors Barbara Cassel and James Pearse Connelly, Elizabeth Gray, Samantha Englender and Halina Siwolop attend the Television Academy’s Art Directors/Set Decorators Emmy Nominee Reception in the Saban Media Center at the Television Academy’s NoHo Arts District Campus on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017 in Los Angeles.

Invision/AP
2017 Art Directors/Set Decorators Nominee Reception
Camera

Television Academy Governors Barbara Cassel and James Pearse Connelly, Jaclyn Hauser and Jennifer Mueller attend the Television Academy’s Art Directors/Set Decorators Emmy Nominee Reception in the Saban Media Center at the Television Academy’s NoHo Arts District Campus on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017 in Los Angeles.

Invision/AP
2017 Art Directors/Set Decorators Nominee Reception
Camera

Television Academy Governors Barbara Cassel and James Pearse Connelly, and Jamie Walker McCall attend the Television Academy’s Art Directors/Set Decorators Emmy Nominee Reception in the Saban Media Center at the Television Academy’s NoHo Arts District Campus on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017 in Los Angeles.

Invision/AP
2017 Art Directors/Set Decorators Nominee Reception
Camera

Television Academy Governors Barbara Cassel and James Pearse Connelly, John Zuiker and Brian Stonestreet attend the Television Academy’s Art Directors/Set Decorators Emmy Nominee Reception in the Saban Media Center at the Television Academy’s NoHo Arts District Campus on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017 in Los Angeles.

Invision/AP
2017 Art Directors/Set Decorators Nominee Reception
Camera

Television Academy Governors Barbara Cassel and James Pearse Connelly, and Keith Ian Raywood attend the Television Academy’s Art Directors/Set Decorators Emmy Nominee Reception in the Saban Media Center at the Television Academy’s NoHo Arts District Campus on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017 in Los Angeles

Invision/AP
2017 Art Directors/Set Decorators Nominee Reception
Camera

Television Academy Governors Barbara Cassel and James Pearse Connelly, and Stephanie Hines attend the Television Academy’s Art Directors/Set Decorators Emmy Nominee Reception in the Saban Media Center at the Television Academy’s NoHo Arts District Campus on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017 in Los Angeles.

Invision/AP
2017 Art Directors/Set Decorators Nominee Reception
Camera

Television Academy Governors Barbara Cassel and James Pearse Connelly, and Drew Boughton attend the Television Academy’s Art Directors/Set Decorators Emmy Nominee Reception in the Saban Media Center at the Television Academy’s NoHo Arts District Campus on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017 in Los Angeles.

Invision/AP
2017 Art Directors/Set Decorators Nominee Reception
Camera

Television Academy Governors Barbara Cassel and James Pearse Connelly, Julie Berghoff and Sophie Neudorfer attend the Television Academy’s Art Directors/Set Decorators Emmy Nominee Reception in the Saban Media Center at the Television Academy’s NoHo Arts District Campus on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017 in Los Angeles.

Invision/AP
James Pearse Connelly on the red carpet at the 2016 Creative Arts Emmys.
Camera

James Pearse Connelly on the red carpet at the 2016 Creative Arts Emmys.

Invision/AP
Browser Requirements
The TelevisionAcademy.com sites look and perform best when using a modern browser.

We suggest you use the latest version of any of these browsers:

Chrome
Firefox
Safari


Visiting the site with Internet Explorer or other browsers may not provide the best viewing experience.

Close Window