School of Visual Arts

Female artist working intently on a large-scale elaborate wire sculpture in her studioFemale artist working intently on a large-scale elaborate wire sculpture in her studio
asdaBlack and white ink drawing on tan-colored paper of people (and a pigeon) walking and scootering across the streets in NYC
Two female students in a library room surrounded by vibrant colorful design books and art objectsTwo female students in a library room surrounded by vibrant colorful design books and art objects
Elaborate black and white drawing crowded with space-aged gear including bikes, helmets and robots in front of a black starry skyElaborate black and white drawing crowded with space-aged gear including bikes, helmets and robots in front of a black starry sky
Six students in various locations of a large bright room with window, lounge furniture art objects on display. One student writes notes on a glass presentation panelSix students in various locations of a large bright room with window, lounge furniture art objects on display. One student writes notes on a glass presentation panel
Heavily painted canvas showing children dancing and playing musical instruments with many vivid shapes and and colorsHeavily painted canvas showing children dancing and playing musical instruments with many vivid shapes and and colors
Female student looking into a vintage viewfinder in front of shelves of branding objects all painted whiteFemale student looking into a vintage viewfinder in front of shelves of branding objects all painted white
1960s psychedelic-style vivid painting featuring young female student surrounded by blooming flowers, bugs and mushrooms1960s psychedelic-style vivid painting featuring young female student surrounded by blooming flowers, bugs and mushrooms

Accelerate Your
Ingenuity

Accelerate Your
Creative Vision

Accelerate Your
Professional Growth

Accelerate Your
Inventiveness

Accelerate Your
Collaboration Skills

Accelerate Your
Creativity

Accelerate Your
Critical Thinking

Accelerate Your
Artistic Awakening

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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.

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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 30000

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 Global School Rankings 2023, 2024, 2025

#1 - Top 50 Illustration Colleges in the U.S.

Animation Career Review 2025 College Rankings

Best Fine Arts Programs

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

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Our Community

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

A photograph of a woman wearing a shirt with large polka dots and standing in front of a poster showing similarly-sized dots. A photograph of a woman wearing a shirt with large polka dots and standing in front of a poster showing similarly-sized dots.

Remembering Designer and SVA Faculty Member Carin Goldberg (1953 – 2023)

A large, whimsical flying machine shaped like a bear head soars through the sky, accompanied by floating animals with balloons and figures riding a smaller contraption in a colorful fantasy landscape.

SVA Alumni Scholarship Awards 2026

A blue-tinted hand overlayed with a starry constellation pattern. Yellow text reads, “Talent doesn’t become art without great teaching.” Below is the School of Visual Arts logo and contact info. The tone is inspirational and artistic.

Eric Baker’s 2026 SVA Subway Poster

A person sitting backward on a red chair, holding a red high heel to her ear, laughing. Wears a blue shirt and black stockings, with gray hair and red lipstick.

The Five: SVA Artists in the Press

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Currently on View

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Your Work Belongs at SVA

Picture yourself at SVA, where students and established artists alike exhibit work at our four brick-and-mortar galleries.

Highlighted STUDENT EXHIBITIONS

After SVA

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

Co-creator, Spider-Man • Creator, Doctor Strange • Artist, Iron Man, Hulk, and Blue Beetle • Inductee, Harvey Awards Jack Kirby Hall of Fame, Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards Hall of Fame, and Inkwell Awards Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame
Steve Ditko • Cartooning
Recipient, Grammy Award, Best Recording Package, cover art for Wilco’s A Ghost Is Born • Founder, chief executive officer, and chief creative officer, Best Made Company • Design director, Isaac Mizrahi • Design director, Paper • Art director, The New York Times • Founder, Buchanan-Smith LLC
Peter Buchanan-Smith • Design
Animator, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Beauty and the Beast (Beast), and Aladdin (Genie) • Character animator, The Little Mermaid • Artistic supervisor, story, Pocahontas • Character designer, Beavis and Butt-Head Do America • Story artist and storyboard artist, Shrek • Storyboard artist, Tarzan, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and Paddington
Tom Sito • Animation
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There is no creative culture of New York City without SVA.


LAURIE CUMBO

Former Commissioner of Cultural Affairs, New York City