New York Studio School offers students an opportunity to study in a three year intensive studio Certificate Program.

The focus and concentration of the Certificate Program allows individuals to hone in on their chosen areas of study: Painting or Sculpture, with Drawing as an integral component of each discipline.  Students begin each semester with a two-week Drawing or a Sculpture Marathon. NYSS’s faculty and guest artists are on-site each day teaching during the rigorous Marathons which set a pace and generate momentum for the remaining weeks of the academic semester in which students work independently and participate in weekly courses. For the first two years students are placed in an Atelier setting, where they are given a space which allows them to explore and immerse themselves in their main area of study, painting or sculpture. Each Atelier has a slightly different philosophy and is outlined by the selected faculty member(s). Students are encouraged to choose an Atelier that best aligns with their goals. The practices fostered within each Atelier may include or prioritize: working from the perception; direct or indirect observation, abstraction or imagination. The faculty members at the Studio School are professional working artists who work with students based on a curriculum designed by the philosophy and practice of the School.

During the third year of the program, students are encouraged to work independently and are allocated to a private/semi private studio. The Certificate Program culminates in a Completion Exhibition with their fellow graduates.

Throughout the duration of the three years, students are encouraged to participate in other course offerings including the Lunchtime Lecture Series, Professional Development Seminars, Peer Seminar Group: Exhibitions of Contemporary Art and the esteemed Evening Lecture Series that hosts some of New York City’s most influential artists, writers, critics, and historians. Students will often register and join the Evening & Weekend Classes including Sculpture, Painting, Drawing and Watercolor classes for exposure to other faculty members’ working methodologies.

The Certificate Program is ideal for a student who is interested in gaining/furthering their plastic experience in either Painting or Sculpture.  Ideally, enrollment is for the full three years, though accommodations can be made for the right applicant to attend one or more semesters, depending upon their availability. This program has allowed students to build their portfolio, in order to apply to other programs. The Certificate Program is not an accredited program and is not registered with the New York State Department of Education.  There is no automatic transfer between the Certificate and MFA programs: students who wish to apply for an MFA while enrolled in the Certificate program must apply directly to the program and will be considered as new applicants.

Application Priority Deadlines are January 15 and October 15.

Apply On Slideroom

Virtual Certificate Program

Combining the studio-centric emphasis of the School’s teaching methods with our personal, real-time approach to online learning, the Virtual Certificate Program is designed for serious artists, and aspiring serious artists, who seek to cultivate the studio skills and methods that will prepare them for a lifetime of art-making.

The Virtual Certificate Program curriculum provides group critiques and discussions with one-on-one faculty guidance and is modeled on the School’s foundational Certificate Program curriculum comprised of a two-week Marathon at the beginning of each semester, followed by twelve weeks of coursework and independent studio work. All courses are led by Studio School faculty members who are working artists and generous educators.

Participants will meet in real-time through Zoom for all courses and supplementary programs such as Professional Development seminars, Lunchtime Lectures, Evening Lectures, and artist-to-artist networking events. Ideal candidates will have a dedicated studio space in which to work, with reliable internet access and the means to photograph their work digitally, and the drive to commit to a rigorous, in-depth course of artistic study and growth.

The priority application deadlines are January 15 and October 15. Financial aid is available for qualifying applicants and the School will continue to accept and review applications beyond these dates, pending available space, on a case-by-case basis.

Apply On Slideroom

Certificate Curriculum (In-Person and Virtual)

Semester I:
Marathon (2-week intensive)
Painting or Sculpture Atelier (2 instructed sessions per week)
Drawing (2 instructed sessions per week)
Any Evening or Weekend elective(s) (optional with no course limits)
Independent studio work

Semester II:
Marathon (2-week intensive)
Painting or Sculpture Atelier (2 instructed sessions per week)
Drawing (2 instructed sessions per week)
Any Evening or Weekend elective(s) (optional with no course limits)
Independent studio work

Semester III:
Marathon (2-week intensive)
Painting or Sculpture Atelier (2 instructed sessions per week)
Drawing (2 instructed sessions per week)
Any Evening or Weekend elective(s) (optional with no course limits)
Independent studio work

Semester IV:
Marathon (2-week intensive)
Painting or Sculpture Atelier (2 instructed sessions per week)
Drawing (2 instructed sessions per week)
Any Evening or Weekend elective(s) (optional with no course limits)
Independent studio work

Semester V:
Marathon (2-week intensive)
Painting or Sculpture Atelier (2 instructed sessions per week)
One elective course (may be Drawing or an Evening/Weekend elective)
Any Evening or Weekend elective(s) (optional with no course limits)
Independent studio work

Semester VI:
Marathon (2-week intensive)
Painting or Sculpture Atelier (2 instructed sessions per week)
One elective course (may be Drawing or an Evening/Weekend elective)
Any Evening or Weekend elective(s) (optional with no course limits)
Independent studio work
Certificate Completion Exhibition

Certificate Program Tuition

Certificate (In-Person and Virtual) – $9,250 per semester

Looking for information about classes at New York Studio School during the summer months? Explore Summer Session.