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Artist Residency Programs

COURSE FINDER
Woman hanging artwork on a white wall in a windowed gallery.
CREDIT: IMAGE BY NIVIA HERNANDEZ.

Illustration and Visual Storytelling: Art and Industry

Jul 8 - Aug 8 2025
$3200
8:00 AM-11:59 PM32 sessions
8:00 AM-11:59 PM | 32 sessions
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If you would like more information about this or any other program offerings, please contact the Artist Residency Programs Coordinator at:
residency@sva.edu
Location
132 West 21st Street
Faculty
Anna Raff,

Illustrator, art director

Nicholas Bertozzi,

Cartoonist, illustrator

Deena So’Oteh,

Illustrator

This studio residency offers the opportunity to develop professional portfolio pieces that express personal vision while exploring the wealth of resources available to illustrators in New York City. With guidance from award-winning illustrators, participants will complete a body of work created from assigned and self-directed projects, aiming to showcase style, strong ideas and aesthetic direction. The goal is to advance your artistic practice to the next level and strengthen your position in the illustration marketplace.

A rigorous schedule, including sessions in portfolio development, sequential illustration, reviews and curated tours will complement independent work. Combined, these initiatives form an intense program that fosters personal voice and professional growth. Special lectures by guest artists, publishers, art directors and agents are designed to provide additional insight regarding the realities of a career in illustration.

Participants have access to a digital facility, as well as the opportunity to work in a variety of mediums. The program culminates in an open studio exhibition.

Faculty and lecturers have included Maëlle Doliveux, Tim Hamilton, Paul Hoppe, Aaron Meshon, Anna Raff, Miss Lasko-Gross and Andrea Tsurumi. Lecturers and portfolio reviewers have included Marshall Arisman, Paul Buckley, Martin Gee, Karl Heine, Charles Hively, Kat Irannejad, Francesca Messina, Yuko Shimizu, Sara Varon and Alexandra Zsigmond. Program coordinator: Viktor Koen, chair of the BFA Comics and BFA Illustration departments at SVA. Note: A portfolio is required for review and acceptance to this program. This residency is graded on a pass/fail system. A Pass (P) will be awarded for its successful completion. This course is held on campus at SVA.

Faculty

Deena So’Oteh
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Deena So’Oteh

Deena So’Oteh is an award winning illustrator, graphic novelist and educator holding an MFA in Illustration as Visual Essay from the School of Visual Arts. Her extensive editorial and book cover work has been recognized by the Society of Illustrators West, American Illustration and 3x3 Magazine. Passionate about the world around her, Deena uses visual storytelling to translate things that are difficult to express with words. She is most interested in illustrating stories that explore complex emotional depth, environment, history and tap into the mysterious magical side of things. Her illustration style is informed by fluid line, organic form, and textures. She lives between NYC and Switzerland.

A woman with long hair smiling at the camera wearing a black shirt.
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Anna Raff
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Anna Raff

Anna Raff – Independent Project Anna is an award-winning illustrator of several books for children including WORLD RAT DAY, IF I WERE A KANGAROO, YOU ARE NOT A CAT!, and THE DAY THE UNIVERSE EXPLODED MY HEAD—a Kirkus Best Book of the Year and New York Public Library Best Book—as well as a series of science picture books with author David A. Adler. Anna was a designer and art director at The Met- ropolitan Museum of Art and several children’s book publishers. She is on the faculty of the School of Visual Arts MFA Illustration as Visual Essay Program, has an MFA from SVA, a BA from Connecticut College, and lives in New York City, where there are reportedly five rats per human resident.

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Nick Bertozzi
A white man with gray and brown short hair smiles holding a children's book. He is sitting outside in a natural setting with a brick building behind him.
Nick Bertozzi

Nick Bertozzi is an award winning comic book artist and illustrator. His many comics include The Salon (St. Martin’s Press), Lewis & Clark (First Second Books), Persimmon Cup, and the NY Times Bestselling Shackleton: Antarctic Odyssey (First Second Books,) and he wrote Becoming Andy Warhol (Abrams ComicArts.) Client list includes New York Times, NBC, Fortune, Blue Man Group, Hallmark, WFMU, WNYC, SPIN Magazine, Nickelodeon Magazine, Cricket, TimeOut Magazine, Backstage Magazine, Gourmet, 3-2-1 Launch Creative, Curious Pictures, Hyperion Books, St. Martin’s Press, First Second Books, Simon & Schuster, Hill & Wang, Abrams ComicsArts, Roaring Brook Press, Disney Books, The Believer, ThinkSo Creative, Instant Life/A24, The Allnighter Room/Netflix. He has taught at the School of Visual Arts since 2003.

A white man with gray and brown short hair smiles holding a children's book. He is sitting outside in a natural setting with a brick building behind him.
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SVA Summer Illustration Residency Portfolio Course with Viktor Koen

Meet illustrator, designer and SVA Summer Illustration Residency lead faculty member Viktor Koen and see the great work made by our residents