VMFA Recipient of Major Decorative Arts Endowment

Richmond, Virginia — The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) announced today the establishment of a significant endowment, the Elizabeth Locke Associate Curator of American Decorative Arts Fund, created by jewelry designer Elizabeth Locke and husband, John Staelin. This endowment marks the couple’s single largest gift to VMFA to date.  “Elizabeth and John are longtime…

Fine Arts & Flowers to Bloom Oct. 20-24

Richmond, Virginia USA — The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) announces the return of Fine Arts & Flowers, a biennial museum-wide exhibit that pairs original interpretive floral arrangements with works from the museum’s permanent collection, Oct. 20–24, 2021. Admission to Fine Arts & Flowers is free. Lectures and other special events will accompany the…

VMFA’s 2021-22 Fellowship Program Supports 21 Student and Professional Artists

Richmond, Virginia — The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) is pleased to announce the 2021-22 recipients of VMFA fellowships. Twenty-one students and professional artists were selected from more than 350 applicants to receive a total of $146,000 towards professional advancements in the arts. The VMFA Fellowship Program has awarded more than $5.8 million to…

VMFA Receives Significant Support for Work by Contemporary Black Artists

Richmond, Virginia — The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) announced today that it recently received an important contribution from Dr. Monroe Harris Jr. and Dr. Jill Bussey Harris. One of the museum’s 21st-Century Art galleries will be renamed to honor the Harrises’s support. “Monroe and Jill are avid art collectors and tremendous supporters of…

VMFA Acquires Portrait by Iconic 16th-Century Woman Artist Lavinia Fontana

Richmond, Virginia — The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) announced their recent acquisition of Portrait of a Lady (1585) by Lavinia Fontana (1552-1614), a celebrated woman artist from Bologna.  “Lavinia Fontana was a pioneer during her lifetime. The discovery and acquisition of this piece elevates VMFA’s collection of late Renaissance art,” says Alex Nyerges,…

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; James W. and Frances G. McGlothlin Wing, Photo by Travis Fullerton, © 2010 Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

VMFA Awarded $345,815 Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Richmond, Virginia — The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has awarded nearly $346,000 in grant funds to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) to support its new three-year Preservation Training Initiative focusing on conservation and archives. This is one of 11 projects NEH selected to receive a Preservation Education and Training Grant as…

Philippe Wolfers (Belgium), Wisteria “Glycines” Choker, 1900–1902

VMFA Acquires Enameled Choker by Celebrated Belgian Jeweler Philippe Wolfers

Richmond, Virginia — The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) announced their recent acquisition of the Wisteria “Glycines” Choker designed by Philippe Wolfers (1858–1929). The choker is one of only 131 unique pieces designed by the renowned Belgian jeweler.  “The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has the finest collection of European Art Nouveau decorative arts…

A snowy day in The E. Claiborne and Lora Robins Sculpture Garden, Photo by David Stover, © 2018 Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Announces Winter Holiday Hours

Richmond, Virginia — The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) announced special hours of operation for the winter holidays. The museum will close at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve this Thursday, December 24; Christmas Day on Friday, December 25; New Year’s Eve on Thursday, December 31 and New Year’s Day on Friday, January 1. “VMFA…