A low cost fiber optic lighting display system includes a light source, an electronic shutter having independently controllable pixel elements positioned proximate to the light source, a controller for controlling the pixels, and a plurality of optical fibers, each fiber having input and output ends with the input end of each fiber positioned proximate to the output side of a pixel element or group of pixel elements. The corresponding method includes providing a fiber optic lighting display having a light source, an electronic shutter having independently controllable pixels, a controller connected to the electronic shutter for controlling the pixels, and a plurality of optical fibers, each optical fiber having an input end positioned proximate to a pixel or group of pixel elements and an output end. The method further includes positioning the output ends of the optical fibers adjacent to a viewing surface, illuminating the light source, and activating the controller to produce an image on the viewing surface.