Anatomy (link to anatomy page) Printmaking (link to printmaking page)

Peter Drake Michael Grimaldi John Jacobsmeyer Nina Levy Clifford Owen Wade Schuman Dan Thompson

Stephen Assael Will Cotton Vincent Desiderio Tracey Emin Eric Fischl Judy Fox Edward Schmidt Amy Sherald Mickalene Thomas Dexter Wimberly Alexi Worth

Peter Drake Michael Grimaldi John Jacobsmeyer Nina Levy Clifford Owen Wade Schuman Dan Thompson

Stephen Assael Will Cotton Vincent Desiderio Tracey Emin Eric Fischl Judy Fox Edward Schmidt Amy Sherald Mickalene Thomas Dexter Wimberly Alexi Worth

MFA – Calculating Infinity

Masters of
Fine Arts
(MFA)

A two-year, studio-driven program for artists committed to technical mastery and contemporary practice. A rigorous studio practice in the heart of New York City, designed for artists ready to deepen their voice and launch a professional career.

Masters of
Fine Arts
(MFA)

The MFA at the New York Academy of Art is an intensive graduate program grounded in the study of the human figure and the development of a rigorous, individual studio practice. Students combine traditional training in drawing, painting, and sculpture with critical inquiry and contemporary discourse—developing work that is both technically accomplished and conceptually engaged.

Program Snapshot

DURATION

2 years

CREDITS

60 Credits

FORMAT

Full-time,
In-person

STUDIO SPACE

Private

DEADLINE

January 15

CONCENTRATIONS

Painting, Drawing, and Sculpture

A Studio-Driven Curriculum That Honors
the Figure and Fuels Creative Risk

The MFA curriculum is centered on sustained studio practice, technical training, and critical dialogue. Students work intensively in drawing, painting, or sculpture while engaging with art history, theory, and contemporary discourse.

Through daily critique and close faculty mentorship, students develop both advanced technical skills and the conceptual frameworks needed to reinterpret tradition for today’s art world.

The program culminates in a thesis body of work that reflects a clear, independent artistic vision.

“The longer you look at an object, the more abstract it becomes, and, ironically, the more real.”

— Lucian Freud

WHO IS THIS FOR?

This program is for artists who…

The Committed Artist

You are ready to dedicate yourself fully to a rigorous, graduate-level studio practice.

The Contemporary Figurative Artist

You see technical training as a foundation for innovation and want to push the figure into new territory.

The Artist Seeking Structure and Critique

You want sustained feedback, discipline, and a community that will challenge and advance your work.

Curriculum &
Structure

Year 1

The first year is a rigorous, immersive period of technical development. Students focus on building a strong foundation in drawing, painting, or sculpture through sustained studio practice, anatomical study, and critical feedback.

Working within a highly structured environment, students refine their observational skills, develop discipline in their process, and establish the technical fluency necessary to support ambitious work.

Year 2

Year Two — Creative Development

In the second year, students transition to a more independent, self-directed studio practice. Building on the foundation established in year one, they focus on developing a cohesive body of work that reflects a clear and evolving artistic vision.

With continued faculty mentorship and critique, students take greater creative risks, refine their conceptual framework, and produce a thesis project that culminates in a final exhibition.

Toggle Title

Year Two — Creative Development

With continued faculty mentorship and critique, students take greater creative risks, refine their conceptual framework, and produce a thesis project that culminates in a final exhibition.

Overview

The program is structured to move from intensive technical development to independent, thesis-driven work.

Concentrations

Drawing

It’s the foundation of all visual storytelling. Drawing students learn how to capture the figure, work from life, and get a firm grasp on the conceptual tools that can propel them beyond traditional methods and create the future of the medium.

Learn more about our drawing program.

Painting

Painting isn’t just one medium. It spans techniques as different as alla prima, trompe l’oeil, and pointillism. Our students develop the fundamental skills behind all of them and the vision to create new approaches of their own.

Learn more about our painting program.

Sculpture

Sculpture students work in clay and stone using classical techniques to create pieces that are truly contemporary. With a focus on what it means to create the figure in three dimensions, the Academy’s sculpture program offers residencies in Carrara, Italy exclusively for Academy sculptors.

Learn more about our sculpture program.

Year 1

Year One — Intensive Training

Year 2

Year Two — Creative Development

With continued faculty mentorship and critique, students take greater creative risks, refine their conceptual framework, and produce a thesis project that culminates in a final exhibition.

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