School of Visual Arts

Students in SVA lounge area featuring a wall of contemporary art. One student smiles while navigating a red pin board game sculptureStudents in SVA lounge area featuring a wall of contemporary art. One student smiles while navigating a red pin board game sculpture
Wall of 50+ multiple three-dimensional color oil abstract paintings with white boarders characteristic of polaroid photographs.Wall of 50+ multiple three-dimensional color oil abstract paintings with white boarders characteristic of polaroid photographs.
Female Illustration student holding a book in her personal studio space surrounded by her own vivid paintings covering the walls on display Female Illustration student holding a book in her personal studio space surrounded by her own vivid paintings covering the walls on display
Architectural painting in muted dark gray, brown and tan colors featuring multiple rectangular divider panels and with misted orange and blue theatrical lightingArchitectural painting in muted dark gray, brown and tan colors featuring multiple rectangular divider panels and with misted orange and blue theatrical lighting
Four students exchange ideas while studying together in lounge area with laptops, books.Four students exchange ideas while studying together in lounge area with laptops, books.
Graphic mural painting comprised of many rectangular shapes in bright red, blue, white and green featuring small black human figuresGraphic mural painting comprised of many rectangular shapes in bright red, blue, white and green featuring small black human figures
Male student standing in front of wall of shelves containing artifacts, art books and sculptural objects discussing ideas with female teacher sitting at a black tableMale student standing in front of wall of shelves containing artifacts, art books and sculptural objects discussing ideas with female teacher sitting at a black table
Monochromatic mixed media drawing featuring a surreal storybook character sewing bright red buttons with a need and thread onto a vegetable-shaped head.Monochromatic mixed media drawing featuring a surreal storybook character sewing bright red buttons with a need and thread onto a vegetable-shaped head.

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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 stand 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.

#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 College Rankings 2023, 2024, 2025

Best Fine Arts Programs

U.S. News & World Report Best Grad Schools Rankings 2026

#1 - Global Creative College

The One Club Rankings 2026

#1 - Top 10 Graphic Design School Programs in New York

Animation Career Review 2025 College Rankings

#1 - Best College for Illustration in the U.S.

CollegeRaptor 2026 Best Colleges Rankings

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Our Community

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

a person sits on a bench on an outdoor subway platform in a coat while holding a cane a person sits on a bench on an outdoor subway platform in a coat while holding a cane

October 2026 Exhibitions and Events at SVA

a person holds a white neon light cricle in a studio space

SVA Alumnus Artist Kacie Lees on Curating the SVA Chelsea Gallery Show “A Vivid Blur”

A portrait photograph of performer Murray Hill.

“Showbiz!”: SVA Alumnus Murray Hill on His New Memoir

posters pasted on the walls of a subway platform with people walking by

Imagination Towers Over the Everyday in Koren Shadmi’s Fall 2026 Subway Poster

READ MORE FEATURES

Currently on View

A Vivid Blur

A whiteish paste-like fluid appears pressed between a background and a pane of glass, with bubbles and freeform shapes appearing in and extruding from the glass.

SVA Chelsea Gallery

Sep 1 - Oct 30

Anywhere–Everywhere: Selections from the Peter J. Cohen Collection of Vernacular Photography

Image of black and white photographs in a pile.

SVA Flatiron Project Space

Oct 2 - Nov 12

The Early Bird Catches the Worm

An exhibition poster for "The Early Bird Catches the Worm," featuring a lyrical, abstract painting on the background. The painting is predominantly purple-gray with flowing lines in multiple colors on top.

SVA Flatiron Gallery

Oct 3 - 24

A Vivid Blur

A whiteish paste-like fluid appears pressed between a background and a pane of glass, with bubbles and freeform shapes appearing in and extruding from the glass.

SVA Chelsea Gallery

Sep 1 - Oct 30

Anywhere–Everywhere: Selections from the Peter J. Cohen Collection of Vernacular Photography

Image of black and white photographs in a pile.

SVA Flatiron Project Space

Oct 2 - Nov 12

The Early Bird Catches the Worm

An exhibition poster for "The Early Bird Catches the Worm," featuring a lyrical, abstract painting on the background. The painting is predominantly purple-gray with flowing lines in multiple colors on top.

SVA Flatiron Gallery

Oct 3 - 24

SEE MORE EVENTS

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

    SVA Visit Days are our version of an Open Hou... View on TikTok

    SVA Visit Days are our version of an Open Hou... View on TikTok

    SVA Visit Days are our version of an Open Hou... View on TikTok

    @SVANYC’s Latest TikToks

    A sneak peek at what our faculty and students are up to, day in and day out!

VISIT OUR TIKTOKVISIT OUR YOUTUBE

After SVA

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

Honoree, Webby Award, ADC Awards, The One Show, Type Directors Club, AIGA, and Communication Arts • Executive creative director, Scott Wadler Associates • Vice president of creative,Custom Ink • Executive creative director, Viacom • Work displayed at The Franklin Institute
Scott Wadler • Media Arts
Eight-time nominee, Emmy Award • Creator, executive producer, storyboard artist, writer, story creator, and songwriter, Steven Universe • Storyboard artist and revisionist, writer, and songwriter, Adventure Time • Storyboard artist, Hotel Transylvania • Musician, Spiral Bound • Honoree, Forbes 30 Under 30, Hollywood & Entertainment
Rebecca Sugar • Animation
Artist, “All Day All Night,” Whitney Museum of American Art • American Sign Language interpreter, “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “America the Beautiful,” Super Bowl LIV • Artist, Whitney Biennial • Artist, “Soundings,” The Museum of Modern Art • Honoree, TED Fellow • Educator, Whitney Museum of American Art
Christine Sun Kim • Fine Arts
See More Alumni

There is no creative culture of New York City without SVA.


LAURIE CUMBO

Former Commissioner of Cultural Affairs, New York City