The Residency Program

Spend your spring in New York City at the New York Academy of Art. Work in sunlit studios drawing and painting from the live model, learn from practicing artists, explore world-class museums and galleries, and connect with a community of passionate peers. By the end of the session, your skills, portfolio, and experience will reflect the energy of the city’s vibrant art scene.

Enroll Now
  • student working in studio
  • man looking at paintings on wall
  • people at art opening

Session I Dates: Jan 12 - Feb 20

Students have the option to choose from a full 12-week session carrying 12 credits, or enroll in one of two 6-week sessions (Spring Session I or Spring Session II) each carrying 6 credits.

Tuition Cost - $5,430

Eligibility

No application is required, please contact the Continuing Education Department at [email protected] or (212) 842-5968 for more information.

  • Students will work directly with Academy faculty—practicing artists who are deeply engaged in contemporary figurative art—while building advanced skills in drawing, painting, and anatomy. The curriculum combines intensive studio practice with critiques, museum visits, and lectures that connect classical traditions to today’s art scene.

  • Located in TriBeCa, just steps from some of the world’s most influential galleries and museums, the Academy provides an extraordinary setting for young artists to develop their vision. You’ll join a community of dedicated peers, gain professional insights, and experience firsthand the creative energy of New York in the spring.

  • Includes full access to the Academy’s extracurricular offerings, from artist talks with major art stars to panel discussions featuring an impressive range of critics, curators, and art world figures.

  • Students are responsible for securing their own housing, but the Academy will provide students will housing resources.

  • Whether you are preparing for graduate study or seeking to elevate your studio practice, this program will expand your technical ability, broaden your artistic perspective, and place you at the heart of the global art world.

Curriculum

Through a structured curriculum, participants study five courses devoted to theories and techniques of contemporary figuration, work in a studio space, and have the opportunity to present their work in a final exhibition at the Academy

  • The Figure Today: Tradition and Transformation

    This course looks at how artists today use the human figure and why it continues to matter. We’ll explore both the long traditions of figurative art and the new, experimental ways artists are reinventing the figure in the 21st century. Through studio projects, presentations, group critiques, and visits to galleries and museums, students will see how figuration connects the past to the present and find ways to bring those ideas into their own work.

  • Drawing the Human Form: Observation and Expression

    This course introduces students to the fundamentals of drawing the human figure and how to place it in space. We’ll look closely at proportion, movement, perspective, and light while learning to see the body as a set of volumes and structures. Students will draw from casts, master drawings, and live models to build both technical skill and creative confidence. The course connects traditional approaches with personal exploration, giving students the tools to develop their own voice through drawing.

  • Direct Painting: Tradition and Innovation

    This course explores the art of direct painting, focusing on the figure, still life, and plaster casts. Students will experiment with techniques from both historical and contemporary painting, learning how to see and interpret the world analytically while developing their own artistic voice. The course emphasizes color, tonal structure, and brushwork, helping students gain confidence in creating depth, texture, and compelling compositions. Through self-directed projects and group critiques, students will connect method with intention, building a stronger understanding of how direct painting can bring ideas to life.

  • Indirect Painting: Layers of Light and Color

    This course focuses on indirect painting, a method of building a painting through layers of color, underpainting, glazing, and scumbling. Students will learn how to create depth, luminosity, and subtle shifts in tone by working sequentially. Combining self-directed projects with guided figure painting exercises, this course helps students understand both the technical and expressive possibilities of layered painting. Indirect painting becomes a versatile tool for developing more complex and refined work in the studio. In addition to studio practice, students complete a written Artist Statement that explains the personal significance, artistic intentions, techniques, and references for their project. Both the Independent Project and Artist Statement are reviewed as part of the student’s evaluation.

  • Studio Practice & Mentorship: Independent Project

    Each student is assigned a personal studio for their Independent Project at the start of the third semester. Students are expected to produce a cohesive body of work over the term. Throughout the semester, students meet individually with their advisors to review progress, receive guidance, and refine their work. In addition to studio practice, students complete a written Artist Statement that explains the personal significance, artistic intentions, techniques, and references for their project. Both the Independent Project and Artist Statement are reviewed as part of the student’s evaluation.

All Sessions:

Achieve your artistic potential

For more details about the program, please contact the Department of Continuing Studies at (212) 842-5968 or [email protected].

Enroll today