Esteban Toro

Esteban Toro is a New York City-based Film Director & Travel Photographer who has explored over fifty countries worldwide. He is a Sony Ambassador, BenQ Global Ambassador, and represented by YellowKorner Gallery. Toro is also a School of Visual Arts NYC Professor and a professional speaker who leads creative workshops, photography/videography expeditions. He has contributed photography to Adobe Lightroom, B&H Photo/Video, and Medecins Sans Frontieres. Toro directed “A Photograph Dies” in 2016, a documentary on Jean-Paul Bourdier’s career, and published his first photography book, “Memorial.” In 2019, he directed the documentary series “Aperture: A World of Stories” for Sony, in collaboration with The New York Times and the World Photography Organisation. He was nominated as a World Press Photo Global Talent in the same year. Toro was recognized by the U.S. Government as an Honorable Alien of Extraordinary Abilities in 2020, and won the Sony World Photography Awards as a National Winner in 2021. His work has been featured in global digital and print publications and exhibitions. View more of his work at estebantoro.com.

Headshot Photo Credit: Claudia Paul

Murat Kahya

Murat Kahya, SVA Artist Residency Project, 2022. As an artist, I employ my craft to examine my experiences, using photographs as a foundation for my work. I incorporate found objects, video, sound, light, and scent into site-specific installations, providing viewers with immersive experiences. Focusing on Turkey’s Kızılırmak River, the project documents its people, landscapes, and unexpected moments with a modern outlook on Anatolia’s serene geography. Known as Halys, Maraşantiya, and Kızılırmak throughout history, this vital wetland has hosted various civilizations and remains culturally, geographically, and economically significant. I aim to capture the transformative power of nature and its influence on human experiences, showcasing the river’s incidental landscapes and surrounding regions. The project also uncovers layers created by the river’s past and present, offering a contemporary perspective and a glimpse into its future.

Nivia Hernandez

Nivia Hernandez, SVACE student, is a Guatemalan-American photographer, visual artist, community arts organizer and curator based in Brooklyn, New York. In her photographic practice, she often travels back to Guatemala to revisit and document local and indigenous communities.  Nivia photographs her subjects in their natural environment with an approach that embraces intimacy, curiosity and empowerment. Her photographs are genuine in their intention to highlight the unique beauty found in the daily life of under-represented women and communities. As a curator, Nivia curates art exhibitions and programming for local small businesses in Brooklyn with hope to introduce the local community to art and open up a dialogue for connections and conversation.

The Division of Continuing Education at the School of Visual Arts

The School of Visual Arts has been a leader in the education of artists, designers, and creative professionals for more than seven decades. With a faculty of distinguished working professionals, dynamic curriculum, and an emphasis on critical thinking, SVA is a catalyst for innovation and social responsibility. The Division of Continuing Education aims to create opportunities by increasing the knowledge of and contributions to the arts through education which is accessible, contemporary, and global.