Master’s Degree

MA in Contemporary Art

Date: Fall 2025
Duration: 1+ Year
Location: New York
Program: Master’s Degree
Mode of Learning: In-Person
Language: English
Topic: Contemporary Art

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Focus on art from the 1960s to the present, developing an in-depth understanding of the artists, theories, and movements that define contemporary art.

This program provides an in-depth academic understanding of contemporary art and fosters the professional skills needed to work in the field. Contemporary art is examined in relation to its makers and its making, the cultural and critical ideas that informed it, and as art object: its curation and display, entry into museum culture, place in art history, and status as an art commodity.

Studies are anchored in the close study of visual art and critical thought, with classroom learning by leading faculty and guest speakers complemented by faculty-led, specially designed visits to the galleries, museums, and artists’ studios of New York City and by international Field Study. Trained to be conversant with art objects and ideas as well as the commercial and institutional contexts in which they are embedded, students are prepared for a wide range of careers in the art world.

Highlights

Build a Portfolio

Signature student projects include designing themed auction sales catalogues, from curating, establishing provenance and literature notes, to condition and pre-sale estimates for each lot.

Experiential Learning

International study trips and visits are significant learning events, where travel, experiencing art in situ, and informal access to tutors come together to create an immersive and enriching experience.

Exploration and Discovery

The unique opportunity to learn directly from experts and gain an intimate understanding of art market key players, mechanisms, and emerging trends.

Next Steps

Faculty

Faculty, MA Contemporary Art, and MA Historic Art and Design, New York

Morgan Falconer is a critic and art historian. After completing a PhD on art and culture in New York in the 1920s and 1930s, he worked as an art journalist and critic, first in London and later in New York. He has written about contemporary art for publications including "The Times (London)," "Art Journal," "The Economist," "Frieze," "The Burlington Magazine," "The Village Voice," and "Art in America." He has written catalogue essays on artists including Georg Baselitz ("Gagosian," 2019), Ugo Rondinone ("Ringier," 2018) and Alex Katz ("Hannover Kestnergesellschaft," 2011). His research interests span Postminimalism, art criticism, and the avant-garde, and his books include "Painting Beyond Pollock" (Phaidon), a history of painting after 1945, and "How to Be Avant-Garde" (W.W. Norton), a biographical exploration of modern artists’ quest to end art.

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Faculty, MA Contemporary Art, New York

Ágnes Berecz focuses on transnational exchanges and collaborative, multimedia practices in postwar and contemporary art. Her most recent research project (“Consumed by Play: The Politics of the Transformable Work of Art”), published by the Kemper Art Museum of the Washington University in 2020, dealt with the participatory, ludic practices of the decade-long, transnational collaboration, Edition MAT.

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Global Program Director, MA Contemporary Art, London and New York

The author of 'Lives of the Great Photographers' and general editor of 'Photography: The Whole Story', Juliet Hacking began her academic career as a Visiting Lecturer at the Universities of Derby and Reading, and at the Courtauld Institute. Learn more..

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Field Study

Field study is a hallmark of the master's programs, taking graduate students around the globe to explore established and emerging markets during key events and with an itinerary ranging from art fairs to visits to artist studios and private collections.

“...study trips abroad are a great way to cement these learnings on the ground, and experience art in the flesh, something paramount to a complete understanding of both contemporary art and the art market.” — Alexis Sarfati ’20

Details

Academic Structure

Designed to immerse students in all aspects of the contemporary art scene, this program provides privileged access to arts professionals and guest speakers drawn from every sector of the industry. The program’s first semester supplies foundations in the study of objects, ideas, histories, and exhibitions. In the second semester, students examine the history of art since 2000; survey key institutions — galleries, auction houses, and museums — through which contemporary art flows. A course on business skills covers key areas in art law, commerce, and fine art valuation.

The Master’s degree is awarded for 30 credits across semesters one and two, as well as the completion of a 6-credit thesis or capstone project in the third semester.

The MA in Contemporary Art culminates in a capstone project which can take the form of a traditional, long-form academic thesis, or a more flexible Master’s Project (often a business plan or curatorial project).

Students may also elect to extend their studies an additional semester and either transfer to the Institute’s campus in London or return to New York and pursue core courses in either Art Business or Fine and Decorative Art and Design.

View required courses and electives here.

Tuition & Fees

Semester 1: 15 credits

Semester 2: 15 credits

Semester 3: 6 credits

Tuition: $1,878 per credit

Travel Fee: Each field study trip typically ranges from $4,500 to $6,500 according to destination. Travel fees are indicative only and subject to change.

Materials Fee: $824

International Student Fee: $206

For more information on tuition and program fees, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

From visa information for international students to course credits, find answers on our FAQ page. If you don’t find the answer you’re looking for, contact an Admissions counselor.

Student Policies

Explore our library of academic and campus policies here. All students who enroll for graduate study must agree to the Terms and Conditions upon accepting their offer of admittance.

Enterprise Studio

The Enterprise Studio was created as an extra-curricular program for Master’s students to receive training and support for new business ventures, culminating in a start-up pitch competition, the Gavel. Through close access to mentors, students have the chance to shape their plans from ideation to execution with the winning Gavel team receiving significant seed funding for their future business.

Accreditation

Sotheby’s Institute of Art-NY holds permanent degree-granting authority from the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York and is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

Student Spotlight

MA Contemporary Art alumna Lisa Black-Cohen is Executive Director of The S.E.L. (Social Emotional Learning) Art Project, an educational company dedicated to providing disabled students with access to the art world. Her path from education to the arts highlights how the synthesis of these two sectors can create innovative and inclusive learning environments.

Living in New York City

Located in the center of Manhattan, the Institute’s New York campus offers easy access to the city’s extraordinary cultural and historical resources. First-hand encounters with artwork, exhibition spaces, and the people who run them are an integral part of the learning experience and a key aspect of the program.

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