Welcome to the Aesthetic Realism Foundation

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

A Letter—powerful & kind—by Meryl Nietsch-Cooperman, Aesthetic Realism Consultant

From her letter:

“At this time of so much worry in the world, I am writing to you about what I consider the most important, truly hopeful, vitally needed education there is. For many years, I have seen that Aesthetic Realism is TRUE, and I’ve seen its tremendous usefulness for everyone! Read more

Fall 2022 classes via video conference are now in session.

Want to audit a class? Contact the registrar at 212.777.5055, between 2-6 PM Eastern Time (USA), Monday through Friday. Be sure to make your request at least 2 days in advance of the class.

Find out more about classes

“Like of the World versus Racism”

—was published in the summer of 2020, a crucial time in history. It explains three hugely important things: 1) the cause of all prejudice and racism; 2) the state of mind we need to have as we think about other people if we’re going to be just to them—including, very much, people who look different from us; 3) how the way of seeing in all true art is utterly opposed to racism. The means by which people’s minds and feelings can really change from prejudice to justice is in this issue of The Right of Aesthetic Realism to Be Known! Read more

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BLOG UPDATE

"Character Sketch"

Faith K. Stern, Aesthetic Realism consultant, created the popular website beautyofnyc.org with her husband John Stern. She says: When I first read Eli Siegel’s poem “Character Sketch,” I loved the way he gave form to self-deprecating feelings like those I’d had. And who hasn’t complained about and murkily criticized himself or herself? In the poem Mr. Siegel organizes these random, painful, and sometimes self-important musings and expresses them in musical, humorous lines that encourage us to look at ourselves freshly and critically.