School of Visual Arts

Image of a person pointing a recording camera on a tripod towards a wall with a projected image of what looks like a mountain range. Image of a person pointing a recording camera on a tripod towards a wall with a projected image of what looks like a mountain range.
Three students working together in an editing suite with several computers, a large monitor and large speakers. Three students working together in an editing suite with several computers, a large monitor and large speakers.
A calla lily against a white sheet and black background is suspended upright by several red strings. A calla lily against a white sheet and black background is suspended upright by several red strings.
An instructor stands at a students workstation pointing at something on their computer monitor; the student in their desk chair looks inquisitively along. An instructor stands at a students workstation pointing at something on their computer monitor; the student in their desk chair looks inquisitively along.
Black and white highly detailed drawing of a bird flying with its wings spread out in a forest. Black and white highly detailed drawing of a bird flying with its wings spread out in a forest.
Architectural rendering of a residential facade featuring floor to ceiling windows and climbing ivy. Architectural rendering of a residential facade featuring floor to ceiling windows and climbing ivy.
Two students standing up against library stacks reviewing a glossy magazine. Two students standing up against library stacks reviewing a glossy magazine.
Student sitting on the floor of an art studio sketching a still life with charcoal. Student sitting on the floor of an art studio sketching a still life with charcoal.

Accelerate Your Creative Vision

Accelerate Your Collaboration Skills

Accelerate Your Creativity

Accelerate Your Critical Thinking

Accelerate Your Artistic Awakening

Accelerate Your Ingenuity

Accelerate Your Professional Growth

Accelerate Your Inventiveness

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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

Our Community

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

Three unique blue and white scarf designs, highlighting diverse patterns and artistic elements in a cohesive display. Three unique blue and white scarf designs, highlighting diverse patterns and artistic elements in a cohesive display.

SVA Celebrates the Year of the Snake

A closeup of a taxi top ad that says "Curious?" in white all caps text on a solid black background

Top January SVA Portfolios

A colorful pencil drawing showing a battle scene in the lower left half, with a split plane closeup of teddy bear warriors on the top right.

On-Campus Exhibitions and Events This February

Four different images in each quadrant of this photo. The top left is a woman in a leopard print jacket and sunglasses smiling, top right is the silhouette of a woman and a motorcycle in front of a sunset, the bottom left is a drawing of Martin Luther King with a basketball in hand, and the last image is of a protest where people hold banners and signs that say, "Rise up for Peltier" and "Free Peltier now!"

SVA at Sundance 2025

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    @SVANYC’s Latest TikToks

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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 person stands next to colorful subway posters with illustrations on them
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a photo of a an object collage containing photographs in black and white, wooden boxes, a wooden cabinet door, and lights
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a lantern sculpture glowing yellow against a dark ceiling
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a lunar new year poster of a dragon on a red background
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a textile painting featuring vibrantly colored and patterned textiles sewn together with a field of orange on the lower half of the canvas
Gabriel Pilar Pala
gabrielpilarpala.com

Art by Gabriel Pilar Pala (BFA 2024 Illustration) is on display in New York City subway stations as part of a poster campaign with Visionary Projects. Via @gpp.art.

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


LAURIE CUMBO

Commissioner of Cultural Affairs, New York City