School of Visual Arts Founder and Chairman Silas H. Rhodes Dies at 91

published Jul 20, 2007
School of Visual Arts Founder and Chairman Silas H Rhodes Dies at 91
School of Visual Arts (SVA), New York City, mourns the passing of its founder and Chairman, Silas H. Rhodes, who died in his sleep on June 28, 2007, at age 91.

Mr. Rhodes co-founded the Cartoonists and Illustrators School in 1947, renaming it the School of Visual Arts in 1956.

His vision for the College, which included hiring professionals working in the arts as faculty and ensuring that humanities and liberal arts courses take a prominent role alongside studio courses, helped define art education in America.

He was also among the first to recognize that design could help colleges and universities tell their stories, launching a poster campaign that continues to appear in the New York City subway system.

Milton Glaser, a faculty and board member at SVA since 1961, has been named acting chairman of the board.

"Silas Rhodes lived a rich and remarkable life," said Mr. Glaser.

"His unwavering devotion to art education has benefited thousands of students and teachers over the last half-century."

The Cartoonists and Illustrators School was founded by Mr. Rhodes and illustrator Burne Hogarth.