New York Academy of Art

Mission

The New York Academy of Art was founded in 1980 by artists, scholars and patrons of the arts, including Andy Warhol, Stuart Pivar, Dennis Smith and Russell Wilkinson. The founders were passionate about fostering the resurgence of representational and figurative art and recognized the importance of classical education in drawing, painting and sculpture as a solid foundation for contemporary artists.

The Academy is a graduate school that combines intensive technical training in the fine arts with active critical discourse. The Academy believes that rigorously trained artists are best able to realize their artistic vision. Academy students are taught traditional methods and techniques and encouraged to use these skills to make vital contemporary art. The Academy serves as a creative and intellectual center for all artists dedicated to highly skilled, conceptually aware figurative and representational art.

In addition to being a graduate school, the Academy is a “cultural force” - housing the nation’s first graduate school of figurative art, a continuing education program, the region’s most in-depth figurative art library, an extensive exhibition and lecture series, and iconic New York City events such as Take Home a Nude and Tribeca Ball.

Accreditation

The Academy received accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) in May 2013. The Academy was granted an Absolute Charter on June 24, 1994 by the Board of Regents of The University of the State of New York. It is institutionally accredited by the Board of Regents and the Commissioner of Education acting under their standing as a nationally recognized accrediting agency.

The college is the only one in the USA to offer a Master of Fine Arts in anatomical and figure drawing.

Its critique has been described as its strength, producing a number of "engaging and interesting" artists who have "a vivid relationship with their work".

Academics

The New York Academy of Art offers one of the most rigorous and comprehensive MFA programs in the United States. The Academy’s teaching philosophy provides a challenging and supportive learning environment and an instructional experience that prepares students to apply their training to contemporary discourse in the visual arts. As an accredited two-year program its curriculum centers around intensive studies in figurative arts and art history, individual studio visits, group critique, critical thinking seminars as well as a professional practice series. MFA candidates may also study additional tracks in 'Anatomy' (four courses about human and animal anatomy, kinesthetics, and anatomical drawings) and 'Printmaking' (three courses providing students with educational depth in lithography, intaglio, relief, and monotype). On successful completion of study, it bestows on qualified students the Master of Fine Arts degree with concentrations in drawing, painting and sculpture.

Faculty

The Academy’s faculty of professional artists and experienced academics have extensive exhibition, publication, award, grant history and a variety of professional affiliations. Faculty specialties reflect the major concentrations of the curriculum, assuring that students receive outstanding education in all areas. The high ratio of faculty to students allows for ease of access to instructors for individualized attention. Academy artists benefit from interactions with the Academy’s dynamic faculty including Senior Critics Steven Assael, Will Cotton, Vincent Desiderio, Eric Fischl, Judy Fox, Kurt Kauper, and Jenny Saville. Additionally, students get the opportunity to meet with a stellar cast of visiting artists and critics who are actively expanding contemporary figurative and representation art today. Past guests include Donald Baechler, Barry X Ball, Walton Ford, Anne Harris, Alexis Rockman, and Peter Saul.

Faculty and senior critics include Susanna Coffey, Daniel Edwards, Judy Fox, Sharon Louden, Judith Schaechter, Nicola Verlato, Steven Assael, Will Cotton, Vincent Desiderio, Eric Fischl, Donald Kuspit and Jenny Saville.

History and Founding

Similar to many new institutions, the Academy faced its fair share of early management and financial missteps. In a bizarre series of events in the 1990s, Pivar claimed he was maneuvered off the school's board in 1994 by Smith and Wilkinson. He then sued the academy for losing several of his artworks. A 1994 report by education consultant Robert Montgomery accused the school of failing the basic requirements of an educational institution. Pivar's dispute escalated, and in 1997 he sued the college for $50 million for "emotional and mental distress".

After the dismissal and resolution of all four claims, the Academy began rebuilding on a solid foundation which has ushered in a tradition of excellence.

Continuing Education

As the vanguard of representational art, the Academy also offers a continuing Education Program and a certificate program designed to providing rigorous in-depth, academic instruction for any skill level.

Facilities

The Academy occupies a renovated five-story, forty-two thousand square foot landmark building constructed in 1861. In total, the Academy houses eight MFA classrooms, multiple exhibition spaces, approximately 100 studio spaces, a library and archives, three student lounges, a woodshop, a kiln, sculpture floor, and printmaking facilities.

Notable Alumni