CURRENTLY ENROLLING:
NEW CORE PROGRAM STUDENTS FOR THE 2025-2026 ACADEMIC YEAR
NEWS
NEWS
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR NEW STUDENTS
TO ENROLL IN THE 2025-2026 ACADEMIC YEAR
YEAR-LONG COURSES FOR K-12 & ADULT STUDENTS
OUR MURAL IN PROGRESS
MURAL LED BY SHANNON RAE FINCKE, CONCEIVED AND CREATED BY MIDDLE+HIGH SCHOOLERS
RECENT EXHIBITIONS
RECENT EXHIBITIONS
FROM FORMAL TO FREEFORM
CLIPS FROM OUR 2025 14TH ANNUAL END-OF-YEAR CORE PROGRAM ALL STUDENT SHOW
THE CONVERSATION
CLIPS FROM OUR 2024 13TH ANNUAL END-OF-YEAR CORE PROGRAM ALL STUDENT SHOW
CORE PROGRAM 24-25 HIGHLIGHTS
CORE PROGRAM 24-25 HIGHLIGHTS
CORE PROGRAM 23-24 HIGHLIGHTS
CORE PROGRAM 23-24 HIGHLIGHTS
MISSION AND PHILOSOPHY
INSTITUTE FOR VISUAL ARTS PROVIDES AN OUTSTANDING, COMPREHENSIVE ART EDUCATION PROGRAM IN A COMMUNITY SETTING FOR CHILDREN, TEENS AND ADULTS
Institute for Visual Arts (IVA) considers the study of art integral to a complete education and imperative in fostering creativity, self-expression, and independent and critical thinking skills. The visual arts contain a distinct body of knowledge and skills, and learning in the arts offers students insight into their own lives, families, experiences, communities, environment, history, culture—and that of others. Through the creative problem solving processes of arts-project learning, students develop collaboration and organizational skills, self-confidence, empathy, and life-long pleasure in learning. Artistic abilities are nurtured and enhanced through in-depth training, exposure to, and experimentation in the visual arts. IVA is dedicated to inspiring and enriching the lives of students of all ages through the study of art and the advancement of visual arts in our greater community and society.
This ain't your "happy little trees" art instruction! Quite simply, Institute for Visual Arts is the most dynamic program of art instruction in Los Angeles. Taught in a supportive, warm environment by the incomparable Shannon Rae Fincke, IVA offers a rigorous curriculum of study and practice designed to engage and challenge every visual artist—from beginner to experienced professional. Shannon's encyclopedic knowledge of art history and technique provides the rock-solid foundation of this very hands-on study. Her annual art shows, showcasing the uniformly outstanding IVA student work, is becoming the stuff of legend. Shannon has a rare talent for getting the absolute best from her students—mentoring them to create works of inspiration, integrity and intelligence. IVA is an invaluable community resource. A true gem. And it's fun! It's one of the reasons I feel lucky to live in Los Angeles—you won't find anything like IVA anywhere else.
—Brian O’Hare, IVA Parent Since 2011 & Student Since 2014