School of Visual Arts

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
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
Black and white ink drawing on tan-colored paper of people (and a pigeon) walking and scootering across the streets in NYCBlack and white ink drawing on tan-colored paper of people (and a pigeon) walking and scootering across the streets in NYC

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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 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.

Two panels showing augmented portrait photography, with the same figure in both while surrounded by swaths of material and wearing a floral and metal mask. On the left panel, the figure is on their knees looking at the camera as mechanical tendrils with syringe and suction cup ends wave around them.Two panels showing augmented portrait photography, with the same figure in both while surrounded by swaths of material and wearing a floral and metal mask. On the left panel, the figure is on their knees looking at the camera as mechanical tendrils with syringe and suction cup ends wave around them.

March 2026 Exhibitions and Events

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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After SVA

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

Recipient, Silver Medal, Society of Illustrators and Silver Medal, MoCCA Arts Fest • Honoree, PRINT magazine’s New Visual Artists • Illustrator, Honey’s Hive book series • Clients include The New York Times, The New Yorker, Macy’s, Ace Hotel, Magic: The Gathering, and Kidrobot
Aya Kakeda • Illustration as Visual Essay
Nominee, Daytime Emmy Award, Outstanding Achievement in Animation, The Tick • Recipient, Inkpot Award, San Diego Comic-Con • Creator, co-producer, story editor, writer, and designer, The Tick • Co–executive producer and writer, Gotham • Executive producer and writer, Supernatural • Supervising producer, Angel • Screenplay writer, Titan A.E.
Ben Edlund • Film and Video
Honoree, Guggenheim Fellow and National Endowment for the Arts Visual Artists’ Fellow • Recipient, Golden Lion, Venice Biennale • Artist, “Adrian Piper: A Synthesis of Intuitions, 1965 – 2016,” The Museum of Modern Art • Founder, Adrian Piper Research Archive Foundation • Permanent collection, Whitney Museum of American Art
Adrian Piper • Fine Arts
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There is no creative culture of New York City without SVA.


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LAURIE CUMBO

Former Commissioner of Cultural Affairs, New York City