Monday, June 27, 2022, 1:00pm ET

Radio City Music Hall

1260 Avenue of the Americas, New York City

School of Visual Arts (SVA) today announces the return of award-winning writer, director, artist and cult icon John Waters for an in-person makeup commencement in honor of the classes of 2020 and 2021, both of which had virtual ceremonies as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Waters previously served as the virtual keynote speaker for the College’s 45^th annual commencement exercises in celebration of the class of 2020. This year’s unique make-up ceremony will take place at Radio City Music Hall and will be streamed live on sva.edu/commencement, as SVA President David Rhodes once again recognizes degree candidates from the College’s 30 academic programs, including BFA, MA, MAT, MFA and MPS.

John Waters has been a singular voice, tastemaker and boundary-pusher in pop culture since the 1970s. A prolific filmmaker, writer, photographer and actor, he has written and directed 16 films, exhibited his work in galleries all over the world, and authored 10 books, including Liarmouth: A Feel-Bad Romance: A Novel, Waters’ first novel published this year by Farrar, Straus & Giroux.

“I am thrilled to be invited back in person to spread my cock-eyed optimism for the second time to graduating students infected with the will to be artists,” said Waters. “Here’s hoping there will never be a cure for creativity.”

School of Visual Arts is a comprehensive college of art and design offering the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts in Advertising, Animation, Cartooning, Computer Art, Computer Animation and Visual Effects, Design, Film, Fine Arts, Illustration, Interior Design, Photography and Video, and Visual and Critical Studies; the degree of Master of Arts in Critical Theory and the Arts, Curatorial Practice, Art Education and Design Research, Writing and Criticism; the degree of Master of Arts in Teaching in Art Education; the degree of Master of Fine Arts in Art Practice, Computer Arts, Design, Design for Social Innovation, Fine Arts, Illustration as Visual Essay, Interaction Design, Photography, Video and Related Media, Products of Design, Social Documentary Film, and Visual Narrative; and the degree of Master of Professional Studies in Art Therapy, Branding, Digital Photography, Directing and Fashion Photography.

SVA alumni include Guy Aroch, Renée Cox, Paul Davis, Sal DeVito, Michael Giacchino, Genevieve Gorder, Rodney Alan Greenblat, Pete Hamill, Keith Haring, Julia Hoffmann, Justine Kurland, Suzanne McClelland, Patrick McDonnell, Elizabeth Peyton, Alexis Rockman, Carlos Saldanha, Harris Savides, Kenny Scharf, Yuko Shimizu, Amy Sillman, Gary Simmons, Lorna Simpson, Rebecca Sugar and Sarah Sze.

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 7,000 students at its Manhattan campus and more than 40,000 alumni in 128 countries, SVA also represents one of the most influential artistic communities in the world. For information about the College’s 30 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, visit sva.edu.