June 4, 2014
Robin Nicholson, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ head of exhibitions and deputy director for art and education, will be leaving the museum to become the director of the Frick Art and Historical Center in Pittsburgh, Penn. He will begin on September 2 as the third director in the Frick’s history.
May 23, 2014
Works from the Life Estate of Paul Mellon, longtime donor and trustee at VMFA, are being gifted to the museum upon the death of his widow, Rachel Lambert Mellon, who died March 17, 2014. Mrs. Mellon held a life estate in 26 works of art originally bequeathed to VMFA in 1999 by Mr. Mellon. Among the gifts are six masterworks, including Vincent van Gogh’s Daises, which will be officially acquired at the June 17 Board of Trustees meeting.
April 16, 2014
An important German Expressionist painting, a 21st-century installation by a prominent African American artist, an early-20th-century Arts and Crafts chair, and a 17th-century Dutch tankard are among the acquisitions accepted by VMFA’s board of trustees on March 20, 2014.
April 15, 2014
In time for Easter, a small collection of Fabergé objects, including the Imperial Rock Crystal Easter Egg, will be on display in the European art galleries. Most of VMFA’s Fabergé and Russian Decorative Arts collection is on international tour, returning to the museum in 2016. Several of the pieces in this display, including the Imperial Easter Egg, were deemed too fragile for travel. This display will remain on view until the newly designed galleries reopen.
April 15, 2014
VMFA unveiled a redesigned, responsive website – providing mobile-friendly access on tablets and smart phones – that is providing broader exploration of the museum’s permanent collection.
April 2, 2014
Exploring contemporary understandings of beauty, Posing Beauty in African American Culture frames the notion of aesthetics, race, class, and gender within art, popular culture, and political contexts. The exhibition – and its companion, Identity Shifts – will be on view April 26 – July 27, 2014.
March 31, 2014
The Richmond Art Region for which VMFA is the regional affiliate received 40 Scholastic National Art Awards, 9th in the total number of awards designated to any region out of the over 100 U.S. affiliates that received recognition. Virginia is served by the Southeast Region-at-large, and Arlington, Fairfax, Southwest, and Richmond Art regions.
March 27, 2014
Exhibitions are subject to change. General admission to VMFA permanent collections is always free. Some special exhibitions require an admission fee, and members receive free admission to all ticketed exhibitions, as noted in each description.
March 12, 2014
A wide range of art acquisitions – including a rare post-World War II modernist painting, important Native American objects, a collaborative work by two contemporary African American artists, and a site-specific glass installation – led VMFA’s year-end acquisitions.
March 5, 2014
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts announced the hiring of Claudia Keenan today to fill the newly created post of Executive Director of the Foundation and Deputy Director for Resources and Visitor Experience.
