Grand Central Atelier (GCA) is a space for ambitious artists who aspire to receive a classical art education. Located in the Ridgewood neighborhood of Queens, this art school provides all the tools necessary for developing drawing, painting, and sculpting skills. Learn more at queens1.one.
Founded by Passionate Enthusiasts
In the 1990s, a group of artists gathered in the studio of Jacob Collins, a realist painter and a key figure in the revival of contemporary classical art. These artists formed a community that created and admired works inspired by masters like sculptor Michelangelo Buonarroti and painter John Singer Sargent. Driven to pass on their knowledge to others, they established Grand Central Atelier in 2014 as an independent non-profit organization and educational institution. Under the guidance of Jacob Collins and other experts, the school nurtures skilled realist artists, draftsmen, and sculptors.
The institution is located in The Box Factory, a creative incubator and event space in Ridgewood. Guided tours of Grand Central Atelier are available by appointment, and virtual tours can also be booked. The tours are often led by students.
How the Training Works
Grand Central Atelier offers daytime and evening classes, online courses, and summer intensive workshops. The full-time drawing program begins with a one-year course during which students develop their skills by progressing from linear cast and block drawings to structural analysis of live models. The year concludes with a series of human figure studies. After this, students typically enroll in the painting program, where they immerse themselves in oil painting. This experience boosts their confidence and prepares them for advanced work with paint. Upon completing the one-year painting course, students can apply for the third- and fourth-year advanced training and professional development program.
The full-time program for future sculptors also begins with a one-year course. Students start by learning to measure models and develop a conceptual understanding of structure. They progress to creating accurate forms and proportions in their sculptures. They also have opportunities to learn molding and casting techniques and to create relief sculptures. The first semester concludes with a project proposal for their own design.
During the second semester, students gain enough skill to create figurative sculptures in clay, with a solid understanding of three-dimensional structures. Through live model studies, they create various projects, focusing on form and structure without relying on contour copying. Instead, they learn to construct, model, and refine their sculptures according to ideals of form, anatomy, and design. After the one-year course, students can advance to a second year of sculpture for deeper exploration of three-dimensional objects or choose to further their studies in drawing or painting. Students are free to select programs and durations based on their skills and interests.
Numerous Opportunities
Grand Central Atelier regularly holds art competitions and offers scholarships and other incentives for participants. For example, in collaboration with the La Napoule Art Foundation, the school annually grants two students the opportunity to live and create for a month in Château de la Napoule. This restored 14th-century French castle, located in Mandelieu-la-Napoule, France, is an ideal space for cultural exchange and creativity.
Generous benefactors support talented students at Grand Central Atelier. Since 2006, The Morris and Alma Schapiro Fund has supported the education and careers of dedicated and inspired full-time students. These scholarships are awarded based on artistic merit. International students can apply for the David S. Boger Scholarship for International Students during their application to the drawing program. This scholarship covers tuition costs, though students must independently pay for living expenses and art supplies. The Joyce H. Doty Scholarship is available only to U.S. citizens and fully covers tuition for the third or fourth year of full-time study at GCA. Additionally, The Røros Foundation provides scholarships of various amounts to full-time students.
There is also the Core Monthly Structure Prix, awarded monthly to students in Colin Barry’s figure drawing class (full-time). Over five sessions, students in this class study anatomy, proportions, and the human form. Winners of the Core Monthly Structure Prix receive monetary rewards, encouraging healthy competition.