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 America and the world to see each other and reality fairly. The means to that fairness is Aesthetic Realism, the philosophy founded in 1941 by Eli Siegel, American poet, critic, and educator. Located in SoHo, NYC, the foundation is a center for culture and kindness. It offers classes in the visual arts, poetry, music, anthropology, and more. There are public seminars, individual consultations, workshops for teachers, and thrilling dramatic and musical events. People of all ages understand themselves newly through the principles of Aesthetic Realism. Read more

A Letter—meaningful & urgent—by photographer and author Len Bernstein

From his letter:

“There is nothing America and the world need more now than for people to see other people justly: to see each other with authentic respect; to see that persons one felt to be so different from oneself are also like oneself. Aesthetic Realism is the education that makes this possible. As an example, I’ll describe a tremendous change in my life.” more

Published at this crucial time in history,
“Like of the World versus Racism”—

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!

Classes via Zoom video conference—
Fall 2021 semester 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

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BLOG UPDATE

“A Daughter, a Mother, & the World”

Jeffrey Carduner, Aesthetic Realism consultant, writes: In America and everywhere, there is confusion about how to see one’s family, and people very much hope to make sense of that big matter. “A Daughter, a Mother, & the World” shows beautifully, with depth and logic, how a daughter began to see her mother newly….

Consultations—Update

At this time, though Aesthetic Realism consultations cannot take place in person, we’re glad to say they are taking place via Zoom video conference or by telephone. You can find out more here.