Central Library, Youth Wing
Once Upon a Page is a curated collection of contemporary stories and art for children spanning the years 1999–2025. The books and publications on display represent the creative spark and sustained discipline of students in the School of Visual Arts’ (SVA) MFA Illustration as Visual Essay program.
Established in 1984 by Marshall Arisman, the selective MFA program admits 20 students per year. Students write and illustrate a book from start to finish, working in stages and through the revision process to fully realize a vision. They are exposed to the publishing profession, and at the same time must hone their own processes, in turn shaping the publishing field. Through the generations of faculty and emerging illustrators who have shaped the program, we see a kaleidoscopic variety of artistic, aesthetic and narrative possibilities.
SVA’s program, like storytelling itself, asks that we stretch our imagination of how narratives can be shared. Once Upon a Page captures the talent and range that has emerged over the last 25 years, as well as the shifting culture of visual storytelling through this timeframe. As program chair Riccardo Vecchio says, “Our aim is to provide students with the skills and analytical approaches necessary to adapt to an ever-evolving professional landscape—all to strengthen the presentation and impact of their personal artistic vision.”
Once Upon a Page invites you to take inspiration from the creative process of the next generation of celebrated illustrator-authors. Where would you go if the next page in your story were blank?
Preview the Exhibit
A partnership between School of Visual Arts’ (SVA) MFA Illustration as Visual Essay program & Brooklyn Public Library.
