About Us
Grand Central Atelier (GCA) grew from a group of visionary artists who gathered in Jacob Collins’ New York studio in the 1990’s. Collectively, these artists pursued an aesthetic sensibility and methodology inspired by works from Michelangelo to Sargent, and rooted in direct observation of nature. This specialized training caught momentum and in 2014, GCA became a 501(c) (3) educational nonprofit art studio located first in Midtown Manhattan, then in Long Island City, Queens and now in Ridgewood, Queens. Over the decades, GCA has built an international reputation as a leading destination for artists seeking a rigorous classical art education. Today, under Collins’ leadership, GCA attracts ambitious artists from around the world to its core full-time, part-time, and online programs.
Mission
A collaborative workspace for the study and practice of drawing, painting and sculpture dedicated to training artists to create beauty through direct observation of nature.
Our Programs
In our full-time Core Program, students study drawing, painting and sculpture for up to four years. To ensure a deep understanding of classical form, design, practice and discipline, students work in a structured organized studio with the hands-on guidance of the studio’s principal artists. International students enroll with the M-1 visa.
To support our growing community of artists, we offer year-round part time classes, intensive workshops and a robust online program. We sponsor resident artist studios, exhibitions, concerts, lectures, artistic competitions and fellowships.
Announcing our New Humanities Programming
The Bruce Cole Humanities Initiative at Grand Central Atelier is an NEH funded two-year public program dedicated to enriching the study of art, history, and culture within the Atelier and educating the public about the history of art and traditional artistic techniques. Founded in honor of Bruce Cole—art historian, educator, and former Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities—the Initiative brings together artists, scholars, and the public to consider the enduring role of the humanities in shaping both personal and civic life. At its core is a conviction long central to the GCA: that artistic training is inseparable from historical understanding, and that the study of the past is essential to meaningful work in the present. Details coming soon.
Art for All
GCA is committed to expanding access to classical art education and to ensuring that the rigor and beauty of this tradition is available to all who seek it. Our commitment is to the pursuit of art made from direct observation of nature and the pursuit of artistic excellence — values we believe transcend politics and belong to everyone. As an institution, we are not aligned with any political ideology, party, or belief system, nor do we seek to be. Instead, we wish to remain, as we have always been, a place where artists and students from all walks of life can come together based on their shared interest and love of art.
Press Highlights:
Board of Directors and Staff
- Founder and Artistic Director – Jacob Collins
- Drawing Director – Colleen Barry
Board of Directors
- Jacob Collins (Chair)
- Richard Cameron
- Edward Minoff
- Katie Whipple
- Jay Newman
- Robert Simon
Administration
- Executive Director – Justine Kalb
- Director of Online Programs – Joy Tomasko
- Registrar / DSO for International Students – Mariya Marcheva
- Model Coordinators – Abbie Ireland, Macey Parker, Maia Williams