Newark School of Fine and Industrial Art

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Newark School of Fine and Industrial Art

Newark School of Fine and Industrial Art (NSFIA) was a city-run vocational and art school in Newark, New Jersey. It opened in 1882 as the Evening Drawing School. In 1909 it was renamed the Fawcett School of Industrial Arts, and in 1928 it became the Newark Public School of Fine and Industrial Art. The name was later shortened to Newark School of Fine and Industrial Art.

In 1931 NSFIA moved into a new building. The school was part of Newark Public Schools and educated many artists and designers. It closed in 1997 during a budget crisis that led the district to focus on K-12 schools. The school was originally housed in the same building as Newark Arts High School, but funding problems in the early 1990s forced a move to Lyons Avenue before it closed.

Notable faculty over the years included Irv Docktor and John R. Grabach, Enid Bell, Gustave Cimiotti (who also served as director), Hannes Beckman (design and color), Hillaire Hiler (color), Joseph Konzal (sculpture), Gerson Leiber (printmaking), Leopold Matzal (portrait), Reuben Nakian (sculpture), Robert Conover, Leo Dee, Jane Burgio, Grigory Gurevich, Ida Wells Stroud (taught there from around 1907 to 1943), Avery Johnson (taught 1947–1960), and Henry Gasser (director 1946–1954).

Notable alumni include J. Clayton "Clay" Conroy, Leo Dee, Irv Docktor, Carla Dunlap, Helen Frank, John D. Howard Jr, Don Martin, Santo Pezzutti, Nicholas Reale, Eli Reed, Bill Sienkiewicz, Grif Teller, Charles Waterhouse, and Robert Rahway Zakanitch.

The school’s colors were blue and white, and it was associated with Newark Public Schools.