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
Spring-Summer 2023 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, 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.
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
“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
TWEET TICKER
BLOG UPDATE
"An Inseparable Fighting-and-Love”
Steve Weiner, computer specialist and Aesthetic Realism associate, writes:
This new issue of The Right Of, titled “An Inseparable Fighting-and-Love,” does something enormously important and kind. It’s about opposites that pain people very much: for and against, welcoming and fighting. And it explains that every instance of true beauty—including a symphony of Beethoven, a still-life by Cézanne, a poem by Walt Whitman—is a guide to how we can be for and against people and things in a way that makes sense, is just, is even beautiful, and has us be proud!…