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June is residency time at IDSVA! As part of the Topological Studies in art and philosophy, we traveled with our PhD students to Rome, Tuscany, Athens, and Venice. Along the way we were joined by extraordinary visiting faculty such as...

Dear Friends, On May 3rd we celebrated IDSVA’s 13th Commencement and the fourteen graduates receiving their PhDs in Art Theory, Philosophy, and Aesthetics. Their dissertations show how the most diverse and original ideas can take root and blossom into new knowledge.

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Adam Antonio Montoya has been awarded the 2026 IDSVA Ted Coons Dissertation Prize for the dissertation On Phantom Country: The Crypt Æsthetics of a Wilder West, directed by Dr. Dejan Lukic. The award was conferred at the IDSVA Commencement ceremony in New York City at the Morgan Library Auditorium on May 3, 2026.

Apply now and start with the online first-year seminar in the Fall (September-December), then travel to Mexico City for your first international Winter residency part of the Topological Studies Program with our world-renowned faculty (January 6-13, 2027). See our academic calendar for more details.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Melvin (Mel) Edwards, one of the most important artists of his generation. Edwards was recognized through the decades since his early museum debut at the Museum of Santa Barbara in 1967, particularly for his steel sculptures combining formal abstraction with historical themes derived from the African diaspora.

IDSVA was pleased to host a special gathering to celebrate the book launch by two PhD graduates, Dr. Kate Farrington and Dr. Jessica M. Rodríguez-Colón, who recently published with Routledge and Bloomsbury. Dr. Keren Moscovitch (IDSVA Alumna 2020) was moderator to the discussion.

IDSVA’s internationally renowned philosophers, artists, and scholars join students at residency sites, leading seminar discussions and fieldwork that explore each location's historical, aesthetic, and ideological significance. They bring cutting-edge research and diverse global perspectives directly into the learning experience.

The Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts is pleased to host the first online book launch of The Artist-Philosopher in the Age of Addiction. Heidegger’s Climatology (Routledge, 2025) by IDSVA’s founder Prof. George Smith on Saturday, April 18, 12:00 pm EST / 6:00 pm CET.

Our Commencement Ceremony will take place on Sunday, May 3, 2026 at 2:30pm, held in the Gilder Lehrman Hall at the Morgan Library in New York City. We are excited to announce that Dr. Sarah Lewis will be the recipient of our Honorary Degree at this year's commencement.

We are now accepting applications from qualified holders of a BA or BFA for our PhD program in Art Theory, Aesthetics, and Philosophy. Earn your PhD with three years of coursework followed by the dissertation.

We are pleased to present the following list of our IDSVA students and alumni participating in academic conferences this season. Congratulations to all!

The IDSVA Newsletter now features articles written by students and alumni published quarterly: in the fall, winter, summer, and spring. Editorial Committee Co-Editors: Latausha Cox, Cohort ’23 & Vincent Turner II, Cohort ’24 Staff Editors: Dr. Silvia Mazzini & Dr. Jeanne Moore Coordinator: Jessica Myer

IDSVA awards one David Driskell Fellowship with each incoming cohort. Driskell Fellows are students who show promise in carrying forward David Driskell's mission to encourage worldwide community and equality through art.

We are now just $15,000 away from unlocking the full match. Reaching that mark will mean every remaining dollar is doubled and put directly toward scholarships for students who otherwise would not be able to pursue this education.

The Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts invites creatives from all backgrounds and disciplines to apply by March 15, 2026.