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 2026 classes via video conference are now in session.
- 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!
Want to audit a class? Contact the registrar at 212.777.5055, Mon–Fri, 2–6 PM (ET) or submit this brief form. Be sure to make your request at least 2 days in advance of the class.
BLOG UPDATE
“Amiable Thoughts for Someone in a Hospital”
Wayne Plumstead, United Methodist Church minister and Aesthetic Realism consultant, writes: In this poem, which is so profound and kind, Eli Siegel goes deeply within the feelings of a person who is in the hospital and worried about his or her health. The “amiable thoughts” in the poem’s title are the author’s hopes for a man or woman in such a situation.
Terrain Gallery
CURRENT EXHIBITION!
FIVE ARTISTS—& THE OPPOSITES
See Terrain Gallery website for more info.