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 of Hope & Urgency, by Margot Carpenter,
Aesthetic Realism Consultant, Executive Director
“At this time, when people are more aware than ever that justice is desperately needed in America and the world, I’m proud to be writing to you about the education that can have that justice really be ! It is Aesthetic Realism, founded by the great American philosopher, critic, and poet Eli Siegel. And it is based on this landmark principle: “All beauty is a making one of opposites, and the making one of opposites is what we are going after in ourselves.” Read more
Fall 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.
“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
“The Beauty of Art & the Pain about Love”
Leila Rosen, Aesthetic Realism associate, writes: People everywhere are hoping for love. Meanwhile, after failed relationships, they wonder, as I did: What am I doing wrong? Read the kind answer Aesthetic Realism gives to this troubling question in “The Beauty of Art & the Pain about Love.” Editor Ellen Reiss explains that the mistakes people make about love are always about how they see reality’s opposites—the same opposites that are together beautifully in art.
Terrain Gallery
Gallery Hours: Wed, Fri & Sat 1-5 PM
DOROTHY KOPPELMAN
Paintings, Prints, Drawings