School of Visual Arts

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 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 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.
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.
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 Ingenuity

Accelerate Your Critical Thinking

Accelerate Your Creativity

Accelerate Your Inventiveness

Accelerate Your Collaboration Skills

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

1,500+

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.

A series of twelve designs are presented in a three by four grid. All twelve designs are abstract, using different colors, shapes, lines, and numbers. A series of twelve designs are presented in a three by four grid. All twelve designs are abstract, using different colors, shapes, lines, and numbers.

Exhibitions and Events at SVA This January

A cute illustrated screenshot depicting a memorable moment from "The Wizard of Oz," featuring its enchanting characters and colorful landscape.

Top Projects on SVA Portfolios for December 2024

An illustration of cool tones with two figures kissing in a city of Roman architecture. Birds carry bags through the sky.

Karlotta Freier, Jesse Zuo, Dana Stirling, and Other SVA Artists in the News

a purple billboard on a green newsstand says, "Valuing the Future, Honoring the Past" alongside an image presumably from an NAACP meeting in the 1960s.

Meet Alumni Scholarship Award Winner Nicolette Francis

READ MORE FEATURES

Currently On View

SEE MORE EVENTS
SVA Subway Series: Pablo Delcan
02:35

To celebrate Pablo Delcan’s upcoming subway poster, we’re taking a look back at the designer’s Subway Series video, which explores the range of work produced by his eponymous firm Delcan & Co and the inspiration behind his 2018 poster.

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.

Item 1 of 5
a book cover featuring an alligator and the title "Absolution"
Item 2 of 5
black and white drawing of a man
Item 3 of 5
people in a room looking at artwork on the wall
Item 4 of 5
two dresses in glass cases on madison avenue, one made of letters and a blue mailbox and the other in the style of a shell
Item 5 of 5
an illustration of tiny people hanging out on top of books with glasses around them

The cover for Jeff Vandermeer’s novel Absolution, created by SVA faculty member Pablo Delcan (BFA 2012 Graphic Design), included in The New York Times’ roundup of the best book covers of 2024.

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


LAURIE CUMBO

Commissioner of Cultural Affairs, New York City