WELCOME

The purpose of the not-for-profit Aesthetic Realism Foundation is to meet the urgent need for people throughout the world to see each other and reality fairly. Aesthetic Realism, the philosophy founded in 1941 by the American poet and critic, Eli Siegel, is a tremendous education in how to have that fairness.

Located in SoHo, NYC, the Foundation offers an exciting curriculum of classes—see the listing below—and individual consultations by video conference. When public events resume, there will be seminars and vibrant theatrical presentations. Through the principles of Aesthetic Realism, people of all ages understand themselves newly. Read more

Winter 2025 semester is now over. Registration for the Spring-Summer 2025 semester will begin Monday, Apr 28.

• The Aesthetic Realism Explanation of Poetry
• Anthropology Is about You & Everyone
• The Visual Arts & the Opposites
• The Aesthetic Realism Teaching Method
• The Opposites in Music
• “If It Moves, It Can Move You”: Opposites in the Cinema
• Understanding Marriage!

Find out more

A Letter for Our Time—& Any Time!

by Bennett Cooperman, Aesthetic Realism Consultant & Actor

I am happy and very moved to write to you about the finest, most needed education I know. The education is Aesthetic Realism, founded in 1941 by the philosopher, critic, and poet Eli Siegel. In it is the understanding that people have thirsted for throughout time, and certainly do now, when there’s so much tumult in the world. As part of that understanding, Aesthetic Realism explains the cause of the cruelties in the world today—including ethnic prejudice and war—and authentically shows how these can end…. Read more

Terrain Gallery

OUR NEW EXHIBITION OPENS IN MAY

See Terrain Gallery website for more info, including works & comments from the show that just closed.