School of Visual Arts

The earth, brightly illustrated, with a pink ring around it and a series of other wacky things happening around it. The earth, brightly illustrated, with a pink ring around it and a series of other wacky things happening around it.
A student dressed in black making a point while students sit in the foreground and background. A student dressed in black making a point while students sit in the foreground and background.
The latin alphabet rendered in a 3 dimensional typeface. The latin alphabet rendered in a 3 dimensional typeface.
Two separate groups of three people inside of a print shop. One group is having a conversation around a table while the other is around a large print plotter. Two separate groups of three people inside of a print shop. One group is having a conversation around a table while the other is around a large print plotter.
White monkeys, illustrated, seated on branches draped in red fabric while snow falls in the foreground; An illustration of white monkeys setting on branches draped in red fabric;
A young woman illustrated with white hair holding a staff with a crescent moon on the end, surrounded by trees and nature. A young woman with white hair holding a staff with a crescent moon on the end, surrounded by trees and nature.
A design for a new font done on paper, scribbled up with feedback in red ink. A design for a new font done on paper, scribbled up with feedback in red ink.
A close up of a person adjusting an image inside of a physical photo enlarger. A close up of a person adjusting an image inside of a physical photo enlarger.

Accelerate Your Creativity

Accelerate Your Critical Thinking

Accelerate Your Inventiveness

Accelerate Your Collaboration Skills

Accelerate Your Ingenuity

Accelerate Your Artistic Awakening

Accelerate Your Professional Growth

Accelerate Your Creative Vision

Learn More Apply
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

1,544

Course 

Offerings

35

Extracurricular

Clubs

9:1

Student-to-Faculty

Ratio

43,000

Global Alumni

Community

Our Community

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

An shot of the SVA NYC Andrew Chang Gallery with people inside looking at art.

SVA Inaugurates Andrew Chang Gallery in Seoul, Conducts Outreach in Japan

A woman in a black top and a black and white polka-dot skirt leans against a stepladder in an art studio. The words 'Hot Water Cool Art' appear on the left-hand side of the image in a stylized font.

SVA Alumnus Lulu Jiang on Her Instagram Interview Series, ‘Hot Water Cool Art’

Many people around a dining table in a home. Some are dressed very proper as if for a family dinner, and some are women dressed in lingerie.

Meet 2024 SVA Alumni Scholarship Winner Joseph O’Malley

A series of five black-and-white prints of ironing boards that have been altered or marked in various ways.

Introducing the Fall/Winter 2024–25 ‘Visual Arts Journal’

READ MORE FEATURES
SVA Subway Series Melinda Beck
02:31

SVA Subway Poster designer and faculty member Melinda Beck finds inspiration in graffiti and the worlds artists create. Beck is an award-winning illustrator, animator and graphic designer known for her vivid style and who has works in the Library of Congress’s permanent collection.

Spotlight
MFA Illustration as Visual Essay
The Book Show
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Our Impact

There’s no place like SVA: an integral element of the Big Apple and the anchor point of a far-reaching global community.

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a colorful illustration of people at a bento shop both working behind the counter and buying food
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a book open to a page with an illustration of a red panda in an orage room with a teapot on the table in front of it
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a four panel image of photos depicting SVA alumni at a bar mixer event
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A colorful, abstract artwork featuring numerous eye-like shapes. Below it is a short poem reading "Not that I'm great in a crowded space, but I'd love to soak in a pool of assurance."
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a group of people at a conference with orange screens behind them
Vivi John
@vivijohn_

Vivi John’s (MFA 2024 Illustration as Visual Essay) work Grandpa’s Bento Shop has won a Silver Medal in the Society of Illustrators 67th Annual Awards! John’s work will be included in the annual SOI exhibition and accompanying book. Via @vivijohn_.

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


LAURIE CUMBO

Commissioner of Cultural Affairs, New York City