Category Archives: Art and Design

The School of Art and Design offers 17 majors to more than 3,800 students pursuing careers in fashion, art, and a wide range of design fields.

Instructor Spotlight: Erin Lefevre

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Erin Lefevre is a native New Yorker and Documentary Photographer. Erin has interned at The Muskegon Chronicle in Michigan and The Hawk Eye Newspaper in Burlington, Iowa. At the conclusion of her internship, she began her freelance career. Her work appears in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, AARP, Associated Press, ProPublica, and various nonprofit organizations. She has worked as a Teacher’s Assistant for The Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco and at The International Center of Photography in NYC. She held her first primary educator role this past summer at the Brooklyn Public Library as Lead Photojournalism Educator. Erin received her BFA in Photography from the San Francisco Art Institute.

Website: erinlefevre.com

Erin Lefevre Teaches:
JSX 005: Introduction to Digital Photography for Middle School Students
Spring Session
Summer Session

Teaching Philosophy:
Photography is an incredible way to document history, share stories, and inspire others. My primary objectives as an educator are to offer different perspectives of the world to my students and to nurture their creativity to its utmost potential. Whether or not they decide they want to pursue photography professionally or continue it as a hobby, I strive to give my students a space to take creative risks, make meaningful work, and learn skills they can apply to all aspects of their lives.

Industry Experience/Recent Exhibitions:

  • Photo Editor at Blink.la, 2018-2019
  • Getty Images Creative Bursary Grant Recipient, First Place, 2018
  • Visualizing Life With Autism, New York Times Feature, 2018
  • Lead Photojournalism Educator, Brooklyn Public Library, 2018
  • CUNY TV Guest Speaker, 2018
  • Freelance Photojournalist, 2018-present

Photography by Erin Lefevre:

 

Instructor Spotlight: Leticia Valdez

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Leticia is a New York City-based freelance fashion and portraiture photographer who works with digital, film and 19th-century alternative photographic processes.  Her photographic style is dim and soft, often drawing inspiration from art history and solitude. She is moved by dull and dark color palettes, opting for a quiet and serene mood.  Leticia earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from the Fashion Institute of Technology and a Master of Arts in Costume Studies from New York University.





Leticia Valdez Teaches:
HSX 111: Fashion Photography Workshop
 
Teaching Philosophy: 
My mission is to excite students by introducing them to not only the technical skills needed to craft a photographic image but to expand their knowledge and vision by acquainting them with the history of photography and fashion photography.  My end goal is that my students put into practice the tools and lessons learned in the classroom and, when combined with their personal aesthetic and imagination, they embark on a visual fantasy with a realization there is no limit to what can be created photographically.
 


Industry Experience/Recent Exhibitions: 
Soho Photo Gallery, New York City
July 2016
The 30 Collective – BFA Photography Exhibition, Fashion Institute of Technology, New York City May 2015
Departures – BFA Photography Exhibition, Fashion Institute of Technology, New York City December 2013
Commission / Features:
Photo Vogue, Lucy’s Magazine, Icon Magazine, Latent Magazine, The Gloss Magazine, The Quiet Front.
Garment Collection Photographer for New York University and private collectors and retail.


Photography by Leticia Valdez:

Instructor Spotlight: Megan Madden

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Self-portrait by Megan Madden

Megan Madden, an alumna Precollege student, is an Associate Photo Editor on Refinery29’s Photo Research team. During her course of study, Megan interned for MILK Studios, Refinery29, and Ecko Unltd. Post graduation she was an assistant at SkyPie Studios shortly before joining the Refinery29 Editorial Photo Team. Megan graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology with her Bachelors in Photography in 2016.
Website:
www.megan-madden.com

 

Megan Madden Teaches:
HWE 011 55A Creative Careers: Photographer

Teaching Philosophy: 
Curiosity is key! No matter how strange or random, it’s important to explore your ideas and exercise your visual muscles because regardless of the outcome it will always be a learning experience to grow from. Exploring and executing your creative ideas only leaves room for more to come! 

Industry Experience:
Post-college Megan assisted a stop motion animator working on visual campaigns for companies like Fendi, W Mag and Walmart. She then went on to work for Refinery29’s Editorial Photo Team producing and photographing original content along with creating imagery for Smirnoff, Halo Top Ice Cream and Sephora. 

Photography by Megan Madden:

Instructor Spotlight: Stephen Savage

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Stephen Savage is an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator whose accolades include a New York Times Best Illustrated Book (Polar Bear Night), a Geisel Honor (Supertruck), and a Sendak Fellowship. His picture book Polar Bear Night was a New York Times bestseller. In addition to children’s books, he illustrates for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Time, Newsweek, and Entertainment Weekly. He teaches at the School of Visual Arts and lives in Brooklyn, New York.

 

Instagram: @savageillustrator

 

Steven Savage Teaches:

Teaching Philosophy:
I encourage my students to make art that COMMUNICATES by combining pictures and words. Some great examples of this type of art are children’s books, comics, graphic novels and advertisements. These art forms “speak” and dialog with the viewer. They’re like language! And your job as an artist is to learn how to send a clear, strong, simple message to your audience. Your tools are color, composition, texture, scale and DRAWING!

Industry Experience:

Artwork by Stephen Savage
THE BABYSITTER FROM ANOTHER PLANET  Published by Holiday House
TWITTER: @savageartist
INSTAGRAM: @savageillustrator

 

Instructor Spotlight: Glenn Hilario

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Glenn Hilario is a fashion illustrator with an extensive experience in several illustration fields, specifically: fashion and editorial. Glenn Hilario has a versatile career, working for the Fashion Designer REEM ACRA, creating illustration for online publications, painting commissioned mural projects in USA and The Dominican Republic and working in the shoe industry for Camuto Group, Global Brands Group and Kate Spade. Glenn’s drawing style is striking and unique, and it keeps his work fresh and up to date for the ever changing and demanding fashion industry of today. Glenn is a BFA graduate from Parsons School of Design, holds an Associate Degree in Fine Arts from Altos De Chavon School of Design in the Dominican Republic, and has a BFA in Advertising from APEC University in the Dominican Republic.


Glenn Hilario teaches:


Teaching Philosophy:
I believe in the growth of my students based on the work put in the classroom, no matter the level of skill each of them have. Through exercises given in the class I pay attention to each individual student, so I can provide them with the necessary help they need to achieve their goal towards the end of the course.
I create a fun environment in the classroom with a positive atmosphere which encourages students to feel confident and producing their best work!


Industry Experience:
Designer and Shoe illustrator at Camuto Group, Global Brands Group and Kate Spade
Fashion Illustrator at Reem Acra
Fashion Illustration Professor at Parsons School of Design
Editorial Publications include:
Liquor.com, Business Week, Ladies Home Journal, Vibe, Hasbro, TV Guide, Sports Illustrated, Movado INC, Sony International, Village Voice, New York Magazine and Nickelodeon among others.
Glenn has also participated in group shows in New York at the Society of Illustrators, The Leslie And Lohman Galleries, Soho New York, and in Paris, France at Gallery Overkampf.


Artwork by Glenn Hilario: