September 16, 2019, New York, NY—Fall brings more than just crisp weather and the start of a new academic year at School of Visual Arts (SVA). It also brings a ton of fun, free, public events and exhibitions for all New Yorkers and tourists to enjoy. From the east side to the west side, with four gallery spaces, a large theatre, and countless classrooms, SVA has much to offer the curious and adventurous weekend (and weekday) warriors of New York City.

Hemlines from Skylines – EXTENDED BY POPULAR DEMAND!

Madison Avenue, between 61st and 79th streets

Through September 30

Part of “Madison Avenue Salutes Fall Fashion,” and featuring pieces created by students from SVA’s BFA Design and BFA Interior Design programs, Hemlines from Skylines consists of more than 18 sculptures of dresses contained within 8-foot tall glass cases and set along a “runway.” Each dress is designed after one iconic New York City skyscraper or institution, and are made up of materials such as resin, welded steel and aluminum, rope, grouted tiles, wood, light bulbs, stained glass, crystals, flowers and more.

Look Both Ways: The Illicit Liaison Between Image and Information – LAST CALL!

SVA Chelsea Gallery, 601 West 26th Street, 15th Floor

Through September 21

Curated by Debbie Millman, influential design expert and chair of the MPS Branding program at SVA, Look Both Ways showcases the many ways in which words, text and information influence art, design, literature and music. Millman brings together a wide range of typographic work from 60 individual artists, including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Shepard Fairey, Dave Eggers, Deborah Kass, Jenny Holzer, Miranda July, Kim Gordon, and more, from Millman’s personal collection and beyond.

Tales and Whispers

SVA Flatiron Gallery, 133/141 West 21st Street

September 14 - October 12

Tales and Whispers showcases the work of six emerging SVA artists, ranging from imaginative tattoos inked on silicone body parts, to paintings that grasp the physical persona, to drawings of compassion with animals. Other personal narratives include mirrors, rapid-prototyped teeth and pizza, beads and ceramics, each representing a type of reflection by the artist, particularly at this time of uncertainty.

After School Special 2019

SVA Theatre, 333 West 23rd Street

September 18 – September 22

The annual film and animation festival returns to showcase the work of some of SVA’s most accomplished alumni in film, television, animation and visual effects. Audiences are invited to Q&A sessions and panels that will accompany screenings including Thom Zimny’s Emmy-nominated Netflix special Springsteen on Broadway and Lynn Shelton’s forthcoming comedy Sword of Trust starring Marc Maron and Michaela Watkins. To RSVP and check festival updates, visit svatheatre.com.

LANDMARKS

SVA Flatiron Project Space, 133/141 West 21st Street

September 19 – October 4

LANDMARKS examines the influence of human existence upon the land and exposes the impact of development on pre-existing landscapes and communities from the urban center to the New American West. From within the geological epoch dominated by humanity, LANDMARKS spans a range of artistic mediums, from photography to natural materials and is curated by Kayla Gibbons.

Artist's Talk: An Evening with Steve Brodner

SVA Theatre, 333 West 23rd Street

Wednesday, October 30, 7:00 – 9:00pm

In conjunction with the forthcoming Master's Series exhibition honoring Steve Brodner, the artist himself will talk about his 50-year career as a successful illustrator, author, educator and political commentator. The exhibition opens on October 5 and runs through November 2 at the SVA Chelsea Gallery. It will feature a comprehensive retrospective of his celebrated career and include never-before-seen political art and illustration work set along a timeline covering the past five decades through present day.

Model Minority and Model Majorities: Furen Dai, Christopher K Ho, and friends

132 West 21st Street, 10th Floor

Thursday, November 7, 7:00pm

In collaboration with Asia Art Archive in America, artists Furen Dai and Christopher K Ho, with special guests, present a series of propositions responding to the strangeness of Asian and Asian-American lived experience in relation to historical meta-narratives and notions of “home”—country politics, history, and language. 

American Truth

SVA Chelsea Gallery, 601 West 26th Street, 15th Floor

November 16 – December 14

Curated by Jasmine Wahi, MFA Fine Arts faculty member at SVA and founder and co-director of Project for Empty Space, American Truth is a multi-centric survey of contemporary America through the lens-based work of a group of 20 artists, all SVA alumni. With a focus on the moments that are often missed, ignored, polemicized, made invisible, or even erased by the mainstream media, this exhibition explores our collective understanding of others and ourselves as people living in America. In conjunction with the exhibition, a panel discussion will take place on Wednesday, December 11 at 6:30pm in the gallery.

In addition to these special events, SVA's academic programs host a number of artist lectures each semester by leaders in digital photography, tech, curatorial practice, activism and social justice, film and more. For a complete list of fall programming, visit our events page.  

School of Visual Arts has been a leader in the education of artists, designers and creative professionals for seven decades. With a faculty of distinguished working professionals, a dynamic curriculum and an emphasis on critical thinking, SVA is a catalyst for innovation and social responsibility. Comprising 6,000 students at its Manhattan campus and 38,000 alumni in 75 countries, SVA also represents one of the most influential artistic communities in the world. For information about the College’s 31 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, visit sva.edu