Art History Classes NYC

Experience the rich and fascinating world of art history with art history classes in NYC. Explore different artistic periods, learn about influential artists, and gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for art in all its forms.

6 classes in-person in NYC have spots left, and 7 classes live online are available.

Combating Hate through Art

The Jewish Museum @ 1109 5th Ave, New York, NY 10128

Consider how art can be used to address challenging issues such as antisemitism, racism, and other forms of prejudice and bias. In this full day workshop, educators will view the short documentary film, Change the Name, meet with the filmmaker, and engage in discussions around works of art by Trenton Doyle Hancock, Mel Bochner, and more. Participants will also respond to contemporary issues through art and writing activities.

Tuesday Nov 7th, 9:30am–3pm Eastern Time

Surrealist Games

ArtsClub @ 311 E 3rd St, New York, NY 10009

In 1920s Paris, the Surrealist artists invented a series of games, designed to help them access their unconscious minds and expand their imaginations. Learn about French Surrealism and the artistic techniques and  games used by its members, like Salvador DalĂ­, Joan MirĂł and Max Ernst. Then play collaborative Surrealist Games and make your own dream-like artworks. Ticket includes lesson and art materials (including a 9x12 inch canvas). Coveralls/...

Friday Nov 17th, 6:30–8:30pm Eastern Time

Introduction to Interior Design

New York School of Interior Design @ 170 E 70th St, New York, NY 10021

Interior design projects may involve totally new construction or the renovation, modernization, or refurbishment of an existing facility, space, or room. This course is intended for people who are considering a career in interior design. It provides a broad introduction to the profession and an overview of the education and requisite skills. The emphasis of this course is residential, a branch of interior design that typically includes specialties...

Monday Oct 16th, 3–5pm Eastern Time

 (6 sessions)

$690

6 sessions

2D Drafting with AutoCAD (Level 1)

New York School of Interior Design @ 170 E 70th St, New York, NY 10021

Take advantage of the functionality and productivity found in AutoCAD. Learn the fundamentals of AutoCAD in this hands-on course and discover how to efficiently prepare 2D digital drawings. Specifically designed for interior designers and using the Microsoft operating system, this course will cover the basics of AutoCAD drawing software.  Topics include drawing commands, drawing set-up and edit, layers, dimensioning, and text. Save, save-as,...

Wednesday Oct 4th, 6–9pm Eastern Time

 (7 sessions)

$690

7 sessions

Figure Painting with Acrylic: A Creative Approach

92nd Street Y @ 1395 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10128

Explore color theory, modern art history and various compositional methods to open up and be intuitive. Using lively gesture with fast drying color skills can be applied to “quick sketch” methods. Having fun will be key! Supply List

Wednesday Jan 3rd, 10am–3:30pm Eastern Time

 (3 sessions)

$475

3 sessions

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Studio Landscape/Cityscape Painting in Water Media

New York School of the Arts @ 315 E 62nd St, New York, NY 10065

In this class, students will learn how to take advantage of the many qualities of water media to create a completed landscape or cityscape painting from start to finish. Students will start the first class by selecting a subject and exploring composition through drawings and sketches. In the second class, Vadnais will explain and demonstrate how to create a useful under painting as a foundation for subsequent layering of color. During the remainder...

Monday Nov 13th, 9am–12pm Eastern Time

 (20 sessions)

$430

20 sessions

Cabaret History and Great Performances

92nd Street Y

Award Winning Cabaret Performer and member of the 92Y Music Faculty, Michael Kirk Lane will lead this lecture series about the art form of cabaret. Using video and audio recordings of influential performers throughout the decades, the series will explore the history of the art form and where it is headed into the future.

Tuesday Nov 7th, 7–8:15pm Eastern Time

 (4 sessions)

$150

4 sessions

Cabaret Conversations

92nd Street Y

Award-winning cabaret performer and member of the 92NY School of Music Faculty Michael Kirk Lane curates a series of conversations about the art form of cabaret in New York City. Welcoming performers, directors, and journalists, these conversations will delve into the history and current state of this unique performance style. Each conversation will also include a Q&A session for the participants. These conversations may be purchased individually,...

Monday Oct 23rd, 7–8:30pm Eastern Time

A Queer History of Visual Art

92nd Street Y

This seminar course celebrates the achievements of LGBTQ+ individuals in the visual arts, from Renaissance to contemporary. Through weekly image presentations, readings, and films, students gain a broad understanding of how LGBTQ+ identity—both hidden and “out”—has shaped aesthetic experiences. Readings include Susan Sontag’s “Notes on Camp” and “Post Cards from America: X-Rays from Hell” by David Wojnarowicz. Please note, course...

Monday Nov 6th, 7–9pm Eastern Time

 (6 sessions)

$265

6 sessions

Creating Compositions for Multiple Figure Paintings

New York School of the Arts @ Online Classroom

In this virtual, eight-session painting course, we will begin by exploring multiple figure compositions in paintings from art history and making smaller master copies in our sketchbooks. We’ll discuss the narrative behind historical paintings, using the story as an introduction to understanding how the painting was constructed. Each class will include a slide presentation that discusses the formal elements of design within a given composition,...

Tuesday Nov 14th, 9:30am–12:30pm Eastern Time

 (11 sessions)

$430

11 sessions

Fear-Free Drawing: Beginners Portrait Drawing

The Art Studio NY @ Online Classroom

Learn how to draw the human portrait in this inspiring, stress-relieving and online, live Beginners Portrait Drawing Class! The human face has been an inspiring muse for artists throughout art history, and this supportive, non-judgmental online drawing class will teach you the fundamental drawing techniques, tricks, and tools that you need to know to draw your own portraits. If you hear yourself saying, “but I can’t even draw a straight line,”...

Tuesday Nov 7th, 8–9:30pm Eastern Time

 (8 sessions)

$299

8 sessions

Fear-Free Beginner Painting, Collage & Mixed Media Art

The Art Studio NY @ Online Classroom

This is an Online Art Class. Our instructors will work with you over high-quality live video and teach you to make art from the comfort of your home. The Art Studio NY conducts classes from New York City, United States (Eastern US Time Zone) Unlock your creative fulfillment in this relaxing, encouraging and self-expressive collage, painting and mixed-media art class with NYC's #1-rated art studio, The Art Studio NY! Explore a wide variety of...

Sunday Oct 1st, 7:30–8:45pm Eastern Time

 (6 sessions)

$225

6 sessions

Intermediate Painting, Collage and Mixed Media Art

The Art Studio NY @ Online Classroom

Deepen your creative expression in this relaxing, encouraging and instructive intermediate level collage, painting and mixed-media art class with NYC's #1-rated art studio, The Art Studio NY! Take your artwork to the next level as you continue to experiment and learn about a wide variety of art materials, fundamental art techniques and personal style. Express your unique, creative point of view through a combination of papers, textures, paint,...

Tuesday Nov 7th, 11am–12:30pm Eastern Time

 (8 sessions)

$299

8 sessions

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Virtual Art History: The French Renaissance

Chelsea Blance @ Virtual Learning via Zoom

The course will be on the evolution of the French Renaissance, focusing on the redesign of Fontainebleau by Francois I. We will learn how the School of Fointainebleau was inspired by Italian artists brought on by Francois I and how the style bean to permeate all aspects of French arts, outside of solely interior design. Artists who we will be discussed include Rosso Fiorentino and Primaticcio as well as other contemporary French goldsmiths and...

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Femmes Fatales of Art History

92nd Street Y @ Online Classroom, New York, NY 00000

Femmes Fatales of Art History: An Examination of the Most Famous Paintings of Women This lecture will take us on an exploration of famous female portraits throughout art history. A thorough analysis of each work will include size, material, year(s) created and an introduction to the artists. We will discuss the significance of the work at the time it was created and how the artwork continues to inspire and be part of popular culture.  Some...

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Discover the Best Art History Classes in NYC

Why You Should Learn Art History in NYC

If you are passionate about art or simply have a cursory interest in learning more about particular artists or periods in the history of art, then NYC is a treasure trove of museums, organizations, and individuals waiting to teach you. There is MoMA, The Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, to name only a few. WIth your newfound knowledge of Pre Raphaelite painters or classical architecture you can impress your friends and coworkers or plug into a new community and converse with other lovers of all things aesthetic. 

Engagement with art and visits to art museums is a terrific way to reduce stress and slow down in our fast-paced world. It could also inspire you to create your own art pieces as gifts for friends and family. Every culture and period of art history is also a world of inspiration just waiting for you. 

Art History, Criticism, and Conversation are growing fields and in recent years interest has grown steadily in practical art forms like paper and book making and fabric arts. Who knows what professional opportunities might arise for side hustles or new positions by the connections you will forge in studying Art History. 

In-Person Art History Classes & Schools in NYC

You can learn about Art History through in-person classes in NYC. When you have an instructor to bounce questions off of and who can guide through the more difficult concepts in Art History, your progress is faster and you retain information better. 

One of the great benefits of in-person classes is that all of the necessary materials are provided for you in a dedicated classroom where you can learn with like minded students. There's no need to worry about cleanup afterward, so you can focus on soaking up information and asking the relevant questions. 

In this class open to all experience levels, you can learn how to paint a completed landscape or cityscape from start to finish. Studio Landscape/Cityscape presented by the storied New York School of the Arts on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, NYC, presents you with the opportunity to learn or refine your own illustration and painting techniques through the lens of traditional as well as contemporary landscape painting. The course consists of four sessions at $240. 

In Learning Art through Creating Art you will work directly from images you have taken on your own phone, translating the photographic image to painting or drawing. Classes are open to all experience levels, aged 16 and up, and classes are capped at 10. The expert instructor Raphael-Raúl will share his years of experience teaching art and art history so that you can continue learning from his notes even after the course has concluded. Students will learn color harmony, ekphrasis, still life, and abstract art techniques. 

Do you want to learn how to pull glass and create forms inspired by the human figure? If the answer is 'yes,' then Pulling the Figure from Glass is a great way to begin your journey into the world of glass. Students will begin by learning about theories of human anatomy and representation, and then move on to shaping and cutting glass rod. The curriculum is made to fit each students' level of experience and interests. This class is a study of the human figure through glass pulling. All materials are provided over five separate sessions. 

Intro to B&W Portraiture and the Darkroom is an introduction to portraiture photography, including its history beginning with Louis Daguerre and Henry Fox Talbot, and traditional black and white photography. Instructor David Vades Joseph will lead students on photographic field trips around the city paired with explorations of how to create a portrait in-class at the Penumbra Foundation in Manhattan, NYC. This class is open to all experience levels and ages 13 to 18. Learn lighting, backdrops, and poses to begin to discover your own photographic style in conversation with the past masters of portraiture.

Making Art History presented by the Classeteria in Brooklyn, NYC, introduces adult students to art history through interactive hands-on activities. By creating your own works of art you will see in-person how art history comes to life. Students will imitate Andy Warhol's image transfers, Alexander Calder's mobiles, and Wassily Kandinsky's synthetic paintings, thus learning about a few of the luminaries of Modern Art History. 

The 92nd Street Y on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in NYC hosts Art History from 500 BCE to Present, an introductory Art History course which will introduce students to the high points of the field. Students will learn skills to analyze major works of art, and learn the relevant terminology to describe aesthetic works in articulately and in detail. This class is open to all experience levels. The famed 92nd Street Y has presented stimulating and daring programming to the public for decades. This is an excellent course for anyone interested in learning more about art or appreciating aesthetics at a deeper level. 

Virtual Art History Classes & Schools

Online Art History classes are perfect for the student who cannot commute to a physical classroom or simply chooses not to do so. Today, you can learn about Art History from anywhere, including your own home or work space. Compared to in-person classes, there is generally a wider variety of virtual classes offered online, and CourseHorse makes finding the right for you quick and easy. 

Sometimes you have to provide your own materials for online classes, but you still will receive guidance and support from a knowledgeable instructor and feedback from your classmates. All you need to take part is a computer or smart device and a reliable internet connection. 

Is there an artist or time period in the history of art about which you would like to know more? Are you searching for inspiration to move into the next phase of your own creative practice? Art History courses are a fantastic way to do these things and more, from networking to simply passing the time. 

Abstract Painting Critique and Discussion is a class held at the 92nd Street Y on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in NYC. In this six-session course, you will learn how to give and receive technical and conceptual notes on the works of your peers. Presentations and discussions on historical artists' works will supplement the works produced by the class. This virtual class is open to students aged 18 and older, and classes are capped at 12 participants. 

In Street Art 101 you will learn about the history of street art as well as some of its regional styles. This will then be put into conversation with your own works of art. Students will learn how to make bubble letters, the basics of tagging, and how to draw characters. A brief introduction of the history of tagging is included as well. This class is open to all levels, and it is presented by the Richmond Art Center, a nonprofit organization based in the Bay Area in Richmond, California.

If you want to know more about art movements, common aesthetic themes, specific artists, and art forms throughout history, Art Seminar: Knowing Art is for you. Presented by the Evanston Art Center, this virtual class is open to students ages 16 and up. Classes are organized around lectures, slides, and in-class discussion. Learn from an expert instructor what the flow of art history means and glean from it the styles and inspirations that will help you in your own creative journey. This is a 12 session course priced at $490. 


Private Group Art History Classes in NYC

If you're looking for a fun and unique team building event for your group or organization then private group Art History classes in NYC is the perfect way to build trust and camaraderie in a new and stimulating environment. 

CourseHorse offers private group Art History classes in NYC, and more courses are being added all the time. Your associates and co-workers will be discussing their favorite artists and works in no time, and you may even discover your own creative spark in the process. 

Learning a new skill set or wading into an unfamiliar field of study can be a daunting prospect, but with the guidance of a knowledgeable instructor, your group can accept the challenge together. CourseHorse will ship any supplies you may need directly to your location, and they support a number of platforms, including Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and WebEx.

Let the games begin! Virtual Trivia: Human History challenges your team or organization to expand their knowledge of human cultures and history in a fun trivia format. Your group will test their knowledge with and against one another, building trust and camaraderie along the way. The class is open for up to 15 people, and you can add additional participants for $10 per person. Games are held over Zoom and last approximately one hour. 

Virtual Cartooning and Doodling Workshop presented by CourseHorse Experiences is a beginner-level cartooning class in which your group or team will learn how to progress from simple stick figures to illustrating detailed faces, all in 90 minutes. A professional instructor will lead your group in a private interactive setting organized around a quick demo and then hands-on doodling. When you book you have access to an event fulfillment team that can answer any questions you may have before, during, or after the event. For an extra $150 you will be connected to an expert who will cater to your group's specific needs. 

If you don't see the perfect class for you, do not worry. CourseHorse can work with you and your team to tailor the perfect course for your needs and goals. Visit the CourseHorse Groups website, click the "Contact Us" button, and fill out the quick and easy form. A CourseHorse representative will respond to you quickly and help you find the course you're looking for. 

Working with CourseHorse is easy because they support the platform that your team utilizes, whether it's Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, or WebEx. Booking is a no-fee process, and you will receive a confirmation in 24 hours or less. You can even change your group size after you've booked if necessary.