Richmond Art Galleries

(Richmond, Virginia - VA, USA)

With the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts ranking as the number one art gallery in Richmond, the city's secondary galleries provide good competition, with fine collections covering all genres. Established in 1919, following a generous donation of some 50 paintings, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts officially opened its doors in 1936, being located in downtown Richmond and expanded several times over the years.

Those who want to experience some cutting edge and challenging contemporary pieces should head to Richmond's 1708 Gallery, while art lovers with more traditional tastes will enjoy the impressive collections of everything from paintings to tapestries at Virginia House.

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA)

Address: 200 North Boulevard, Richmond, Virginia VA, 23220-4007, USA
Tel: +1 804 340 1400
Recently expanded at the cost of some $150 million, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) has long been Richmond's primary art gallery and boasts a fantastic collection of art works from across the globe, including impressive collections of Art Nouveau, Art Deco and contemporary American art. The new McGlothlin Wing has added a further 165,000 square feet / 15,325 square meters of exhibition space, to the already generous 380,000 square feet / 35,300 square meters. In addition to the museum's permanent collections, there are frequent visiting exhibitions which are open to the public, while the Robins Sculpture Garden provides a further dimension.
Open hours: Wednesday to Sunday - 11:00 to 17:00
Admission: free

1708 Gallery

Address: 319 West Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia VA, 23220, USA
Tel: +1 804 643 7829
Richmond's 1708 Gallery is a non-profit art gallery that provides space for new and experimental art. Focusing on contemporary and abstract art, the gallery serves as a promoter of the arts within the community and over the years has supported innumerable up-and-coming artists from Virginia. Works displayed here are in a range of media including drawings, paintings, sculpture, printmaking, film, video and photography. Just a few blocks away is the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, the Landmark Theater and the Rhoads Hall, all of which reside within the campus of the Virginia Commonwealth University.
Open hours: Tuesday to Friday - 11:00 to 17:00, Saturday - 13:00 to 17:00
Admission: free

Anderson Gallery

Address: 907 1/2 West Franklin Street, Richmond, Virginia VA, 23284-2514, USA
Tel: +1 804 828 1522
Part of the Virginia Commonwealth University and established in 1930, the Anderson Gallery is the official exhibition venue for the VCU School of the Arts. Many emerging local artists are actively supported here, while there are usually plenty of national pieces to enjoy as well. Every spring, the MFA Thesis and Juried Student exhibitions are notable highlights and always well supported.
Open hours: Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 18:00
Admission: free

Chasen Galleries

Address: 3554 West Cary Street, Richmond, Virginia VA, 23221-2729, USA
Tel: +1 800 524 2736
Specializing in fine art and glass, the Chasen Galleries lies on the northwestern side of the city and contains a wonderful collection of paintings, glassworks and sculptures by some of the region's favorite artists. Whether you are here to view or purchase, visitors to the gallery are welcome to come and enjoy the changing exhibitions. Highlights include a selection of contemporary fine art glass, with some unusually exquisite pieces on show.
Open hours: Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 18:00
Admission: free

Virginia House

Address: 4301 Sulgrave Road, Richmond, Virginia VA, 23221-3256, USA
Tel: +1 804 353 4251
Not exclusively an art gallery, Virginia House does have an impressive collection of portraits, Elizabethan furniture, Flemish tapestries and Spanish colonial art. Most of the pieces you see on display here were once owned by the former homeowner, US Ambassador to Spain, Alexander Weddel (1876 to 1948). Weddel and his wife moved to the property in 1928 and a tour of the building will not only reveal some exception art works, but also a fascinating insight into the lives of these two historical figures. Possibly of interest, Agecroft Hall is to be found nearby, next to the James River.
Open hours: Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 16:00, Sunday - 12:30 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children, students and seniors, children under six free

Visual Arts Center of Richmond

Address: 1812 West Main Street, Richmond, Virginia VA, 23220, USA
Tel: +1 804 353 0094
Close to the Anderson Gallery and just off South Meadow Street, the Visual Arts Center hosts frequently changing exhibitions by both established and unknown artists. There is normally only one exhibition staged at any given time and the opening night is always a popular time to come and watch the center reveal its latest guest artist's works.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 11:00 to 19:00, Saturday - 10:00 to 16:00, Sunday - 13:00 to 16:00
Admission: free