The Art Students League of New York advances its online art course program with the new platform e-telier. Since launching in May 2020, when the pandemic imposed unparalleled challenges to in-person training, the 150-year-old institution’s live digital classes have hosted over 4,400 students from all US states and more than 40 countries across the globe. In response to this surge in interest, the League transformed its online learning offerings into a uniquely crafted live experience built on the school’s studio-based arts education.

“We were amazed by the response to online learning and the stories we began to hear from students from around the world who suddenly had access to the League, and we were heartened by their desire to engage in art-making and be a part of the League’s community,” says Michael Hall, the League’s Artistic and Executive Director. “No longer did someone need to be located in New York City to study with The League, and our options started to seem limitless at a time that had previously felt so bleak.”

e-telier’s interactive sessions allow students to receive immediate feedback from instructors and exchange ideas with their classmates. Taught by established artists and educators, the classes bring the traditional studio class environment to the digital realm with features such as multi-camera angles for primal training, prerecorded live model sessions, and image sharing for teacher and peer critique.

As a landmark for democratic arts instruction, the Art Students League of New York has provided thousands of students — including the likes of Jackson Pollock, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Yayoi Kusama — with the foundational techniques for art-making. “After transforming the need for accessible art education, we are excited to carry our mission during these challenging times to new voices around the entire world, particularly when art is most needed,” adds Hall.

Class information for the fall season for both e-telier online and in-studio learning is available on the League’s website. New atelier-based classes in drawing, painting, sculpting, printmaking, art theory, and more are added each month.

To learn more about the League’s e-telier online classes, visit classes.theartstudentsleague.org.