On June 28, 2020, a new digital platform emerged on Instagram under the handle @blackatsva, marking a significant turning point for student advocacy within the creative arts community. The account launched with a direct, resonant message aimed at fostering a protected environment for those who had long felt marginalized in creative spaces.
"This is a safe space for current and former black students at SVA to share their stories," the inaugural post declared. "You are heard. Your stories matter. You matter."
Accompanying this statement was an open invitation for Black students of the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City to submit anonymous accounts detailing their personal experiences, challenges, and encounters throughout their time at the prestigious college. In the weeks that followed, the account published a steady stream of testimonials that painted a troubling picture of the institutional hurdles and interpersonal struggles Black students faced at the hands of faculty, staff, and peers. Reviewing these anonymous entries reveals a persistent, underlying theme: that systemic racism has been an active reality within SVA, and that the concerns and voices of Black artists have historically been overlooked or ignored by the administration.
The movement at SVA did not happen in a vacuum. It was part of a broader wave of student-led accountability accounts sweeping across premier art and design institutions nationwide during the summer of 2020. Similar platforms, such as @blackatRISD at the Rhode Island School of Design and @blackataccd at the ArtCenter College of Design, were established around the same period, signaling a widespread reckoning within higher education regarding race, equity, and inclusion in the arts.
Public attention surrounding @blackatsva intensified dramatically following a post concerning well-known illustrator and SVA professor Chris Buzelli. An anonymous student alleged that Buzelli had treated them in a demeaning and racially biased manner. The post generated a massive surge of online engagement, bringing thousands of new followers to the page and thrusting the grassroots initiative into the broader public eye. While the controversy surrounding the specific faculty member brought unprecedented visibility to the account, the creator has consistently emphasized that the broader mission extends far beyond any single incident. Rather, the primary focus remains on addressing systemic racism, ensuring safe environments for current and incoming students, and demanding accountability from art and design faculties.
The Vision and Inspiration Behind the Project
To understand the motivations driving the platform, Illustration Age reached out to the anonymous creator of @blackatsva to discuss the origins of the project, the challenges encountered along the way, and the long-term goals for institutional reform.
Illustration Age (IA): Please start by telling us what the BlackAtSVA project is all about and what inspired you to launch it.
BlackatSVA (BAS): BlackAtSVA is a platform for black students, alum, and faculty to share their stories about how racism has impacted their experience at SVA. My younger sibling’s high school actually started a @blackat___ account and when I did more research I found a plethora of similar accounts. I noticed there wasn’t one for SVA and I thought it was important to create a safe space for students to share their experiences.
IA: What did you hope to accomplish? Was it more about giving black artists a place to share stories with each other, creating change in art education, or both?
BAS: I knew that I didn’t want it to stop at sharing stories. There needed to be institutional change. I’ve never fought back against an institution in this capacity so I didn’t know where to begin. I did some research and found documents from the 60’s from black students listing demands they needed from their college. It was insane because a lot of the demands black students fought for decades ago are still not being met.
IA: What has been the response from fellow SVA students and artists or people outside of this circle?
BAS: We have received so much support from SVA students, alum, family, friends – even people who attend other schools.
IA: Have you received any communication or acknowledgement from faculty or staff at SVA?
BAS: Some SVA faculty have privately voiced their support and acknowledgement. However SVA has failed to address the concerns black students have shared on our platform. They sent out a mass email basically saying "Ok we see that you are talking about us and our faculty, we are working on fixing it (aka working on saving their reputation), but we need students to come out publicly to move forward". Which personally feels like a slap in the face and feels like they are still invalidating our stories. Black students are traumatized, how can you expect us to come out publicly when SVA has been covering up and protecting their white faculty for years. SVA has lacked a safe space for black students to voice their concerns on campus grounds. If we felt safe and protected this page wouldn’t have been created.
Navigating Backlash and Fostering Financial Support
Speaking out against entrenched systems within specialized industries often carries personal and professional risks. For the creator of @blackatsva, stepping forward to amplify these narratives has invited severe pushback, highlighting the very hostile environments students have reported.
IA: From my own experience I know that there can sometimes be blowback when speaking out about injustices in the illustration industry. Have you experienced any negativity as a result of starting BlackAtSVA?
BAS: We have received legal threats, death threats, and racial gaslighting comments but I really just look the other way. That isn’t what this platform is about, I will continue to amplify stories in my community. At the end of the day we just want to be treated like human beings and like we exist. I’m not afraid nor will I back down – there is so much work to be done in all areas and it’s so important to keep fighting.
The account raked in thousands of followers because of one story mentioning Chris Buzelli – a professor at SVA. I personally don’t want to center BlackAtSVA around this incident but it is the reason why the account has gained so much attention. We must focus on the black students that have faced blatant racism, how SVA will create a safe environment for current and incoming students, and how SVA will hold their faculty accountable for their actions.
Beyond amplifying narratives, the initiative has expanded its scope to address the material and financial vulnerabilities faced by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students navigating higher education. To that end, the project established the BlackAtSVA Aid Fund.
IA: You recently started the BlackAtSVA Aid Fund as part of this project. How will the money be used and what are the criteria for students or artists who wish to benefit from it?
BAS: We opened up a fund in support of former and current BIPOC students of SVA. We wanted to help people in need of short-term, immediate financial assistance. We will disburse funds in the amount of US $500 per person, on a first-come-first-served basis. Like myself many BIPOC students have their transcripts or degrees locked at SVA because money is owed – it’s so heartbreaking. A lot of us would like to continue our education but are unable to because SVA will not release our documents.
Undocumented, international and first generation students- particularly black and working class students have experienced difficulty supporting themselves financially during their time at SVA. These difficulties result in less access to academic support and an increase in feelings of isolation. I just wanted black students to be able to continue their education, pay off any debt, fund their projects, pay their rent, buy groceries or use funds in any way they choose. I wish I had something like this when I attended SVA – I hope to continue to do this for students not only at SVA but around the country.
Looking Forward and Historical Context
As the platform continues its work, the creator reflects on the broader historical context of student activism and the realities of navigating institutions as a person of color. Researching past student movements has provided both perspective and historical continuity to the current efforts.
IA: What have you learned since launching Black at SVA? Has anything surprised you?
BAS: Since launching BlackAtSVA I have learned so much about the history of black people challenging their institutions – especially during 1965-1972. "THE BLACK CAMPUS MOVEMENT: Black Students and the Racial Reconstitution of Higher Education, 1965-1972," by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi – is an excellent resource.
BlackAtSVA has received the occasional condescending comments, gaslighting, threats, SVA brushing us under the rug but none of that surprises me at all because outside of all of this – that’s what it is like to navigate life as a black person. I don’t feel discouraged, I only feel motivated to apply more pressure. There is so much work that has to be done, there is so much racism embedded in the fibers of SVA, every industry, and this country. I hope we can make black students feel safe and protected anywhere they may go.
