School of Visual Arts

Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend

The School of Visual Arts will be closed on Monday, January 19, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Classes will resume, and offices will reopen, at 9:00am on Tuesday, January 20.

Large pink, purple and yellow soft sculpture in the shape of a fluffy spider on pale gray floor in the corner of a white roomLarge pink, purple and yellow soft sculpture in the shape of a fluffy spider on pale gray floor in the corner of a white room
Male student working beside an instructor in metal fabrication shop with tools and equipment on their desk Male student working beside an instructor in metal fabrication shop with tools and equipment on their desk
Allegorical tan, black and red drawing of birds with long beaks tasting a large red strawberryAllegorical tan, black and red drawing of birds with long beaks tasting a large red strawberry
Female student in wood working studio sanding a layered wood sculpture in the shape of a rabbit many cut out wood shapes beside herFemale student in wood working studio sanding a layered wood sculpture in the shape of a rabbit many cut out wood shapes beside her
stylized black and white graphite drawing of 5 people grouped as a family wearing period costumesstylized black and white graphite drawing of 5 people grouped as a family wearing period costumes
Four Students working at library table surrounded by colorful books on shelves. A green computer screen is in the backgroundFour Students working at library table surrounded by colorful books on shelves. A green computer screen is in the background
Close up detail of colorful abstract painting with vibrant orange yellow, blue and graphic black brush strokes Close up detail of colorful abstract painting with vibrant orange yellow, blue and graphic black brush strokes
Overhead view of two student's hands cutting elaborate shapes out of colored plaxiglass on a work surfaceOverhead view of two student's hands cutting elaborate shapes out of colored plaxiglass on a work surface

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The 3rd Avenue and East 23rd Street Corner Signs with an official “SVA Way” sign underneath (Left); The 23rd Street building with two SVA NYC banners hanging above as students walk below.

Welcome to our urban campus, a slice of New York City life.

A subway station poster with an illustration of a pencil shaving and the words “Stay Sharp (left); Four different posters made by SVA Faculty over the years.

“Stay Sharp” (2024) poster by Riccardo Vecchio on a subway platform (left); more SVA subway posters by (clockwise from top right) Peter Hristoff, Marshall Arisman, Gary Panter, and Carol Fabricatore.

Students reading at a round table with shelves of books around them (left); A student working on a painting on the wall while another works at a desk.

Interior of SVA Library (left); students working in a classroom facility.

A skyline showcasing differently sized buildings, some made of brick, others made of concrete.

New York City skyline as seen from the 23rd Street Residence, which exclusively houses first-year students.

An archival picture of students listening to a lecture (left); Two people observing a drawing at a desk.

An SVA drawing class circa 1960, courtesy of SVA Archives.

We are School of Visual Arts

SVA is a leader in the education of artists, designers, and creative professionals.

By the Numbers

75+

Years Educating

Artists

56

Countries

Represented

46

States

Represented

30

Degree-Granting

Programs

1,500+

Course 

Offerings

35

Extracurricular

Clubs

9:1

Student-to-Faculty

Ratio

43,000

Global Alumni

Community

#1 Best 2D Animation School In the World

The Rookies 2025 Global School Rankings

#1 Best Illustration Schools in the U.S.

The Art Career Project 2024

Best Fine Arts Programs

U.S. News & World Report Best Grad Schools Rankings

See More Rankings

Our Community

Major happenings from around the College, including news, events, exhibitions, and more.

Color print showing a stylized dog running against a gridded background, with the date "3/11/1957" overlayed in a sans serif font.Color print showing a stylized dog running against a gridded background, with the date "3/11/1957" overlayed in a sans serif font.

January 2026 Exhibitions and Events

A cover of 'The New Yorker' featuring an illustration of NYC Mayor Elect Zohran Mamdani on the crowded subway.

The Five: Zohran Mamdani Edition

Illustration of a person holding a large crab with long legs, surrounded by various objects like a vase, tea set, fan, and musical instruments on a green floor.

Instagrams to Follow in January

Impressionistic painting depicting a figure underwater, surrounded by goldfish that swim around them and emerge from the water overhead. In the background, a full moon rises beyond the horizon.

52 Emerging SVA Artists Feature In ‘Next Up’

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Currently on View

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After SVA

Our alumni go on to have extraordinary careers across a wide range of creative fields.

Nominee, Emmy Award, Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, Pam & Tommy • Director and executive producer, Pam & Tommy and I, Tonya • Director, Cruella, Lars and the Real Girl, and Fright Night • Director and producer, Dumb Money • Director and consulting producer, United States of Tara
Craig Gillespie • Media Arts
Co-director, Art as Education/Arte como Educación • Curator of education, Fundación Cisneros/Colección Patricia Phelps de Cisneros • Coordinator, international education programs, higher education, and special U.S. projects, The Museum of Modern Art • Educator, Whitney Museum of American Art and The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Maria Gonzalez • Fine Arts
Animation supervisor, Babe and Babe: Pig in the City • Directing animator, Luca • Animation fix lead, Onward and Lightyear • Simulation artist, Elio • Character development and animator, Bao • 3D lead animator, MouseHunt • Animator, Toy Story 2 and 3, Finding Nemo, Cars franchise, Up, WALL-E, and Ratatouille
Nancy Kato • Computer Art
See More Alumni

There is no creative culture of New York City without SVA.


LAURIE CUMBO

Commissioner of Cultural Affairs, New York City