A Storied Past and a Bright Future Ahead at The National Academy of Design

Last week, the National Academy of Design celebrated two major milestones: its 200th anniversary and the induction of its 2025 Academicians—a prestigious cohort of artists and architects advancing their fields’ education. The evening began with a ceremony and introduction of each incoming Academician, followed by a toast and cocktail reception in the historic halls of The Morgan Library and Museum. The mood, as guests dispersed into the night, was at once celebratory and energized; after all, the country’s oldest artist-founded arts organization had, that day, found itself on the precipice of its third century. Notables in attendance included Gregory Wessner, Carl E. Hazlewood, Julie Mehretu, Nanette Carter, Polly Apfelbaum, Sky Pape, Tacita Dean, Adam Yarinsky, Hilary Sample, Mia Lehrer, Michael Meredith, Stephen Cassell, Sheila Hicks, Corinne Erni, and Emily Jane Kirwan. Photo credit: BFA