Complex sentence: After spending several years practicing fine arts, he moved to New York in 1981, receiving an M.A. in Cognitive Science (NYU, 1988) and a Ph.D. in Visual and Cultural Studies from University of Rochester 1993.
Split into simpler sentences: After spending several years practicing fine arts, he moved to New York in 1981. While in New York he received an M.A. in Cognitive Science (NYU, 1988) and a Ph.D. in Visual and Cultural Studies from University of Rochester 1993.