History of Manhattan Art

The Leader of Global Art Education

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Founded in New York City in 1992, Manhattan Art is one of the earliest portfolio-focused art education centers dedicated to college and university admissions preparation in both the United States and Korea. Established by artist and educator Sang Heo, Manhattan Art was created to provide rigorous, foundation-based art training for students pursuing competitive admissions in art, design, and architecture programs.

Over the past three decades, Manhattan Art students have earned acceptance to leading institutions including Cooper Union, Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Brown, University of Pennsylvania, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Parsons, School of Visual Arts (SVA), Pratt Institute, NYU, SAIC, SCAD, MICA, and many others. Collectively, students have received thousands of college acceptances and hundreds of millions of dollars in merit-based scholarships, including full and multi-year awards.

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Founder: Sang Heo

Founder Sang Heo is a graduate of Hongik University, one of Korea’s most respected fine arts institutions, where he completed both undergraduate and graduate studies in fine arts. In 1986, he was selected as one of 100 artists worldwide for the Tokyo Biennale, organized by Yomiuri Shimbun, one of Japan’s leading newspapers.

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In 1992, he immigrated to the United States and continued his studies at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City, earning a BFA in Fine Art. Since then, he has devoted his career to developing admissions-focused art portfolios and introducing students to the structure, expectations, and philosophy of top art schools in the United States.

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For over 24 years, Sang Heo has led Manhattan Art’s curriculum development, emphasizing fundamental drawing, conceptual thinking, and academic rigor—principles that remain central to the program today.

Educational Philosophy & Recognition

Manhattan Art is known for its strict focus on academic and foundational art education, distinct from children’s art programs, commercial art training, or market-driven decorative art. The curriculum emphasizes fundamental skills, conceptual development, and disciplined studio practice, reflecting the expectations of serious art and design institutions.

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Manhattan Art’s educational materials and articles—covering topics such as art portfolio preparation and admissions strategy—have been widely read by students and families preparing for competitive applications. Over the years, Manhattan Art has been recognized by more than 150 art schools worldwide as a provider of high-quality, foundational art education.

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Today, Manhattan Art continues its mission of guiding students toward top art schools and universities through depth, discipline, and academic excellence, maintaining the standards established at its founding in New York City.