Inspired by bold color, textures, and all things vintage since her childhood, Gloria Armentrout extended her interior design practice and sewing capabilities to a whole new art form. Her one-of-a-kind handbag creations, made from New York fabric or vintage family heirlooms, serve as both functional and funky pieces of wearable art.

Join us in the VMFA Shop, meet Gloria and find a the perfect colorful and exquisite handcrafted gift for that someone special at this holiday season.

Exclusive VMFA member discount given on all purchases.

The VMFA Shop is proud to announce an exciting partnership with Cynthia Gale New York! Join us for a trunk show featuring Cynthia’s exclusive new jewelry line inspired by VMFA’s renowned Fabergé collection.

A former model, cultured entrepreneur, and trendsetting designer from the start of her 20-year career, Cynthia Gale has combined her fast-paced, eclectic New York City lifestyle with her enduring love of the serene and tranquil beauty of the Far East to create exquisite sterling silver jewelry. For Cynthia, each piece reflects a personal expression of heritage, culture, time-honored history, or a spiritual journey.

Join us in the VMFA Shop during Fine Arts & Flowers to meet Cynthia and be the first to discover VMFA’s signature Imperial Collection jewelry line. VMFA Member exclusive discount is offered on all purchases.

Early in her career, artist Valerie Sanson worked as a fashion coordinator for Richmond’s famed Thalhimer department stores. The retail experience she gained there, coupled with her own creative bent, later drove her to open one of the most imaginative home accessory and gift boutiques in Richmond: Lane Sanson. Her love of fashion soon inspired her to create “Painting with Stones,” an inventive line of necklaces, pins, rings, and cufflinks. “When wearing my jewelry,” Sanson says, “you simply can’t have a bad day!”

The master jewelers of Artel replicate the timeless tradition of Carl Fabergé, whose masterpieces were sought by tsars and nobility and are still treasured today. Objects include Fabergé-inspired pendants, Russian lacquer boxes and dolls, carved Russian Santas, and more! Made of sterling silver, 24k gold vermeil, and enhanced by Swarovski crystals, fine Italian enamels, and semi-precious stones, these stunning collectibles will wow even the most discerning admirer of Fabergé-style objects.

VMFA Exclusive Member Discount offered on all purchases.

 

One of our favorite artists returns to VMFA Shop! Gabriel Ofiesh, a graduate of UVA and Charlottesville resident, is bringing his complete collection to VMFA just in time for the holidays. His signature jewelry design is both contemporary and sophisticated, using a mixture of 18k gold, sterling silver, precious and semi-precious stones in non-traditional ways. In addition to his signature square rings and his “orbit” design detail, Gabriel’s collection includes a beautiful collection of necklaces, pendants, bracelets and earrings, all featuring his unique, modern design. You won’t want to miss this trunk show!

VMFA Members receive an exclusive discount on all purchases.

Winner of the 2016 Art in Literature: Mary Lynn Kotz Award

Join us for a talk by this year’s winning author. Art in Literature: The Mary Lynn Kotz Award is given jointly by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Library of Virginia.

This year’s winner is Portraits at an Exhibition, a novel about a young man named Robin who is searching for his life’s purpose as he wanders an art exhibition of portraits. Gazing upon works by Botticelli, Velazquez, Sargent and other famous artists, Robin ponders the lives of the artists and the people they painted, and draws inspiration from them.

Author Patrick Horrigan, a writer and English professor at Long Island University, will discuss the creation of this book. A reception and book signing in the Marble Hall follows the talk.

Great changes took place in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many traditional, agrarian-based communities were giving way to urban centers largely controlled by industrial corporations. Captains of industry, including John D. Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt, and Andrew Carnegie, amassed fortunes through their interests in steel production, shipping and railroads, and banking. The new, ultra-wealthy strata of society that developed in these decades had money to spend and social positions to establish and maintain. This workshop investigates how artists and designers created the visual identity of the rich and famous in this era that Mark Twain dubbed the “Gilded Age.”

Sponsored by 

What can food tell us about history, economics, literature, and language? This workshop delves into the intersection of food and art. Topics include the impact of agriculture on early civilizations, the consequences of the Columbian exchange, and contemporary culinary diplomacy. Activities incorporate analyses of food-related works of art that serve as primary sources for investigations of geography, social structures, trade relations—and more! Participants will also visit The Artist’s Palate, an interactive exhibition on view in VMFA’s Memorial Foundation for Children Teaching Gallery.

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When VMFA’s doors opened for the first time in 1936, the building’s site and surrounding area already had a fascinating history. Many reminders of earlier eras can be seen in and around the sculpture garden today. This workshop provides opportunities to look back through time at the changes that have taken place on these grounds, including the construction of Robinson House (ca. 1850), the 1885 establishment of R.E. Lee Camp, No. 7 (Confederate Soldier’s Home), and the Confederate Memorial Chapel (dedicated in 1887). Activities will include a walking tour, discussions of change over time, and the application of critical thinking skills to primary sources.

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“The Eight” were a group of 20th-century artists dedicated to creating art that provided an unflinchingly honest, and sometimes ugly, view of urban reality. Also known as members of the Ash Can school, these painters, illustrators, and printmakers turned to the margins of society for their inspiration: immigrants, the working-class, and urban poverty. In this workshop, teachers will explore the McGlothlin Collection at VMFA as it relates to American history, make comparisons between artworks of different styles, and create something new inspired by the grit of today!

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