School of Visual Arts

Close up detail of colorful abstract painting with vibrant orange yellow, blue and graphic black brush strokes Close up detail of colorful abstract painting with vibrant orange yellow, blue and graphic black brush strokes
Overhead view of two student's hands cutting elaborate shapes out of colored plaxiglass on a work surfaceOverhead view of two student's hands cutting elaborate shapes out of colored plaxiglass on a work surface
Large pink, purple and yellow soft sculpture in the shape of a fluffy spider on pale gray floor in the corner of a white roomLarge pink, purple and yellow soft sculpture in the shape of a fluffy spider on pale gray floor in the corner of a white room
Male student working beside an instructor in metal fabrication shop with tools and equipment on their desk Male student working beside an instructor in metal fabrication shop with tools and equipment on their desk
Allegorical tan, black and red drawing of birds with long beaks tasting a large red strawberryAllegorical tan, black and red drawing of birds with long beaks tasting a large red strawberry
Female student in wood working studio sanding a layered wood sculpture in the shape of a rabbit many cut out wood shapes beside herFemale student in wood working studio sanding a layered wood sculpture in the shape of a rabbit many cut out wood shapes beside her
stylized black and white graphite drawing of 5 people grouped as a family wearing period costumesstylized black and white graphite drawing of 5 people grouped as a family wearing period costumes
Four Students working at library table surrounded by colorful books on shelves. A green computer screen is in the backgroundFour Students working at library table surrounded by colorful books on shelves. A green computer screen is in the background

Accelerate Your Inventiveness

Accelerate Your Collaboration Skills

Accelerate Your Creativity

Accelerate Your Critical Thinking

Accelerate Your Artistic Awakening

Accelerate Your Ingenuity

Accelerate Your Creative Vision

Accelerate Your Professional Growth

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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

#1 Best 2D Animation School In the World

The Rookies 2024 Global School Rankings

#1 Best Illustration Schools in the U.S.

The Art Career Project 2024

Best Fine Arts Programs

U.S. News & World Report Best Grad Schools Rankings

See More Rankings

Our Community

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

A plateau mountain rises above colorful autumn trees under a sky filled with vibrant sunset clouds.A plateau mountain rises above colorful autumn trees under a sky filled with vibrant sunset clouds.

December 2025 Exhibitions and Events

An illustration of a person reclining in a home and drawing in a sketchbook. The drawing is composed from the person's point of view.

Introducing the Fall/Winter 2025-26 ‘Visual Arts Journal’

Photographic portrait of a person with dark hair and a deep blue shirt holding what appear to be oversized, illustrated die

Meet Alumni Scholarship Winner Héctor Ruiz

Orange and white checkered block with bulbous figure and greens on top

Q&A with David Ross on New Interdisciplinary Online Program

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Currently on View

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After SVA

Our alumni go on to have extraordinary careers across a wide range of creative fields.

Principal illustrator, Rockstar Games • Artist, Academy Award–nominated Waltz with Bashir and The New York Times best-selling graphic novel The Divine • Recipient, Gold and Silver Medals, Society of Illustrators • Clients include Netflix and The New Yorker
Tomer Hanuka • Illustration
Cover photographer, Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Entertainment Weekly, Esquire, and Spin • Portrait photographer, President Barack Obama, David Bowie, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Angelina Jolie, and Jay-Z • Photographer, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and American Horror Story promo posters
Frank Ockenfels • Photography
Co-director, Art as Education/Arte como Educación • Curator of education, Fundación Cisneros/Colección Patricia Phelps de Cisneros • Coordinator, international education programs, higher education, and special U.S. projects, The Museum of Modern Art • Educator, Whitney Museum of American Art and The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Maria Gonzalez • Fine Arts
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There is no creative culture of New York City without SVA.


LAURIE CUMBO

Commissioner of Cultural Affairs, New York City