Where can I draw from a live model in New York?

Stance lists 5 verified places in New York, including Enoch's Arts & Coffee — Figure Drawing, New York School of the Arts — Life Drawing and Art Lab — Life Drawing Open Studio. Each listing shows the practical information available and links back to its source.

What kinds of sessions are listed in New York?

The New York listings mainly mention Drawing and Painting. Formats vary between studios, schools, public institutions and independent groups.

Do I need to book before attending?

Booking rules vary. 5 of the 5 listings link to an information or booking page, so check the venue listing before travelling.

Local directory

Figure drawing in New York

New York offers several genuinely different ways to draw from a live model: drop-in open sketch, ticketed evening sketch nights, recurring studio sessions and multi-week taught courses. Stance keeps the dated calendar separate from each venue’s ongoing rhythm.

Previously published programme

Dates kept for reference. Check the organiser’s current programme.

Upcoming sessions

See all 1 sessions

Studios, schools & groups

Enoch's Arts & Coffee — Figure Drawing

Weekly Manhattan figure drawing sessions with a professional live model, short and longer poses, open to beginners and experienced artists.

Every Monday, 18:30–21:00. · $20 per session.

New York School of the Arts — Life Drawing

Structured life drawing courses in Manhattan working directly from the model, with fall and spring sessions for artists at all levels.

Fall 2026 sessions include Thursdays 09:00–12:00 from 10 September to 29 October. · $400 for the listed eight-session block.

Art Lab — Life Drawing Open Studio

Monitored open-studio life drawing in Staten Island with a live model and changing pose lengths; artists bring their own materials.

Wednesdays 18:30–21:30; Fall 2026 begins 23 September for ten weeks. · $225 for the semester or $25 per session.

Spring Studio / Minerva’s Drawing Studio — Life Drawing

Long-running Manhattan figure drawing studio offering live-model sessions seven days a week, including quick poses, long poses and monitored or taught sessions.

Sessions run daily and on five evenings each week; Sunday begins at 10:00, with multiple weekday and weekend blocks. · $20 cash per in-person session; multi-session cards available.

Art Students League of New York — Open Sketch

Historic New York art school with open figure-model sketch and painting sessions alongside its figure drawing curriculum.

Open sketch: $22 regular or $15 for members per session. · Sunday open sketch with model and Saturday open painting with model run September 2026–May 2027, morning and afternoon.

Society of Illustrators — Sketch Night

The Society of Illustrators hosts ticketed figure-drawing evenings in Manhattan, including nude and costumed models, with chairs and sketch boards provided.

Sketch Night publishes dated sessions; September 2026 includes 23 and 30 September. · $10–$20 for the September 2026 sketch nights.

Open sketch, studio or structured course?

Art Students League is the clearest drop-in-style option in the current verified set: open sessions run through the 2026–27 season with published member and regular prices. Society of Illustrators adds ticketed Sketch Nights with nude or costumed models.

For a more structured commitment, New York School of the Arts and Art Lab publish multi-week programmes. Spring Studio and Enoch’s are recurring studio formats. That difference matters: a weekly schedule is useful for planning, but only dated sessions belong in the “upcoming” calendar.

Planning in New York

Check borough and travel time: the verified set spans Manhattan and Staten Island.
Open sessions and taught courses use different booking rules; do not assume a drop-in seat on a course.
Member pricing can materially change the cost at institutions such as the Art Students League.