MFA Programs in New York City

New York Academy of Art:
The New York Academy of Art, in Tribeca, lower west Manhattan is a private, not-for-profit art university offering Master of Fine Arts degree programs with concentrations in drawing, painting and sculpture to U.S. and International students. The New York Academy of Art also offers continuing education opportunities. At the New York Academy of Art, we believe that the world of visual art is built upon the essential cornerstones of figurative drawing, painting, and sculpture. Mastering these disciplines is critical to the development of an artist's personal vision and, ultimately, to the creation of vital contemporary art.

Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree program:
The New York Academy of Art offers a rigorous Master of Fine Arts degree with concentrations in drawing, painting and sculpture. Students receive instruction in studio courses, seminars and lectures, with a strong emphasis on individual and group critiques. The two-year program continues the tradition of figurative art through intensive anatomy courses, traditional skills training and ongoing discourse about contemporary practice with peers, renowned artists and academics.

Painting Concentration:
Painting's technical, formal and conceptual legacy lies at the heart of the painting curriculum. Our intensive two-year program combines the study of historic and current painting methodologies with the development of the student's individual artistic vision. The core studio sequence begins with direct, perceptually
based methods, continues with indirect techniques, and then proceeds to synthetic modes of pictorial construction. Self directed work is regularly critiqued by renowned visiting artists and faculty in the context of a diverse contemporary discourse.

Drawing Concentration:
During the Renaissance, drawing was considered the foundation of the visual arts. At the Academy, it still very much is. The Drawing Core presents an intensive sequence of figure drawing challenges culminating in advanced problems in multi-figure composition, life-scale and synthetic approaches. Special subjects include Linear Perspective and Cast Drawing, which explain how reality is abstracted and translated into artistic form.

Sculpture Concentration:
The sculpture program is built on the tradition of modeling the human figure by hand. Direct observation of the body, supported by the study of anatomical structure, provides a platform for exploring the challenges of creating form. Discussion and critique with prominent figurative sculptors create a dialogue on expression, metaphor and the role of figuration in the ever-shifting context of contemporary art.

The Diploma Project:
The Diploma Project is the Academy’s MFA thesis project, which represents a synthesis of the various skills honed at the Academy and the student’s personal vision. Each MFA candidate is expected to develop at least three resolved artworks as the Diploma Project, or, in the case of sculpture, plans and maquettes and a single finished piece. The Faculty Committee, in consultation with the individual student, selects one piece for the culminating exhibition.

Continuing Education Programs:
- Drawing & Painting Studio
- Absolute Beginners Drawing & Painting
- Painting in Oils
- Friday Atelier
- Landscapes & Seascapes
- Academic Figure and Portrait Painting
- Portrait Sculpture
- Figure Drawing 101
- Intermediate Drawing and Painting
- Still Life Painting
- Human Anatomy / Ecorche of the Human Head
- Intermediate and Advanced Painting the Figure
- Sculpting the Figure
- Figure Drawing: Long Pose
- Absolute Beginners Drawing and Painting - Your First Art Class
- Beginning Watercolors
- The Bargue Method
- Painting the Figure