Grand Central Atelier (GCA) sprang from a group of visionary artists who gathered in Jacob Collins’ studio in the 1990’s. Collectively, these artists envisioned an aesthetic sensibility motivated by works from Michelangelo to Sargent. This inspired a method rooted in traditions pre-dating the 19th century and the advent of photography.

This specialized training caught momentum and in 2014, GCA became an independent, not-for-profit (501c3) organization. Over these decades, we have built an international reputation as the premiere destination for ambitious artists seeking a rigorous classical art education. Our unique methodology continues to attract world class artists to our full-time,  four year program.

Under the leadership of Jacob Collins and the guidance of a faculty of dedicated artists, all of whom have completed the four year training, this program has consistently produced the world’s most skilled contemporary realist painters, draftsmen and sculptors. Our existence forges the newest link in an unbroken 600-year-old tradition of artists contributing works of art untouched by modernism, inspired by the direct observation of nature.