Throughout the nearly four decades I’ve been at the Art Students League, change has been a constant, both within and outside our walls. Over the last fifteen years, in particular, the momentum has accelerated. Technology became an integral part of our cultural experience. The high cost of living in New York today made the city much less accommodating to struggling art students, who, in the past, could look to places like the League and its affordable atelier program as a means of finding their artistic voices. 

Amidst these changes, the League has continued to serve as a stabilizing force in the fine arts. Our students and members continue to rely on the League for that stability. There are still those for whom art is a calling and who believe that the life of an artist is an act of devotion. Our members cherish the League’s community environment and the freedom to pursue one’s path in a supportive atmosphere. 

At the same time, it’s important to remember that, throughout most of its history, the League was at the forefront of change. Modernism introduced new dialects to the language of art. Instructors like Stuart Davis, Hans Hofmann, Yasuo Kuniyoshi, George Grosz, and many, many others added their voices to the League’s diverse program. This enriched the educational experience for our students, some of whom went on to become prominent artists while others continued on to teach at the League.

The acceptance and assimilation of change is one of the League’s greatest qualities. It’s what has made us strong and allowed us to endure for almost a century and a half.  As we go forward, let us continue to embrace new ideas in artistic thinking as well as new ideas in educating those who intend to make art a profession and who can benefit from our rich artistic heritage.   

It has been the greatest privilege of my life to serve an organization that has given me and countless others so much. The Art Students League is sacred. Its strength lies in its ability to adapt, which is the greatest attribute of any enduring organization. As the world continues to evolve, let us embrace the next generation of artists who will add their names to the League’s glorious roster of alumni and extend our legacy for generations to come.