Today we will all be going on a deep dive into art in Richmond and our opening section will fully cover the best art galleries and museums near you.
After that we will get into a variety of other topics like local art supply stores, events, festivals, dealers, appraisers, walking tours, sculptures and statues, art classes, studios for rent, and the top frame shops in your area.
If you are after any specific section you can jump straight to it using the table of contents on the left and we are also including a Richmond art map with all of the various places we mention throughout the post pinned on it.
You can find more of our posts on cities around the Northeast at this link.
Best Art Galleries & Museums In Richmond
When you want to visit the best art galleries and museums in Richmond you should head to:
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is open from 10am to 5pm Saturday through Tuesday and until 9pm Wednesday through Friday and is free to enter as a leading national art museum with over 5,000 years of works from throughout the world. There’s plenty to see and do at the VMFA including unique exhibitions, collections spanning the globe, a great sculpture garden, two restaurants, talks, activities, and much more.
Since 1963 the Visual Arts Center of Richmond (VisArts) has been a part of the local community providing over 1,000 visual and creative arts classes each year including clay, wood, fiber, painting, photography, printing, glass, metal, drawing, writing, decorative arts, and other visual media while employing about 125 educators. The Visual Arts Center is open from 9am to 9pm daily.
Home to some of the best new work around The 1708 Gallery is open from 11am to 5pm every day but Monday and is dedicated to fostering creative innovation in both emerging and established artists while increasing public awareness.
Art Works is a full-service art center that is open from 11am to 5pm every day but Monday offering a variety of services while local and international creator’s modern art is on display and for sale. There are 80 artist studios and 5 galleries resulting in a wide range of work.
Ada Gallery is open from 1pm to 4pm Thursday through Saturday and was founded in 2003 as a contemporary fine art gallery that hosts monthly shows displaying emerging and mid-career artists.
One of the most well-known galleries in the Mid-Atlantic region is Reynolds Gallery which is open from 10am to 5pm Tuesday through Saturday presenting many well-known artists like Ellsworth Kelly and John Baldessari plus they also show off works by local and regional artists from your area’s diverse array of talent.
Artspace is a nonprofit gallery for the visual and performing arts that is open from noon to 4pm every day but Monday promoting understanding and awareness of contemporary works.
Page Bond Gallery first opened its doors in 1999 and they show paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography, glass, ceramics, and limited edition prints among other media from 10am to 5pm Monday through Friday.
For a community-driven, award-winning visual and performing arts facility that has established itself as a renowned arts venue for local and regional audiences check out Gallery5 who collaborates with a wide range of cultural, educational, environmental, and social organizations. Head over from 5pm to 10pm on Friday or Saturday to see all that they have to offer.
Thea and Geraldine Duskin are co-owners and curators of Ghostprint Gallery which is open from 11am to 6pm Wednesday through Saturday. The art they used to only show at the gallery space is now available to you on the website 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
At its monthly openings Artemis Gallery has featured over 170 national and international artists and these openings along with the rest of the Main St gallery community take part in the First Fridays Art Walk. Artemis is open from 6pm to 9pm Tuesday through Saturday and is also home to a growing collection of fine art and crafts acquired through participation in national exhibits and trading.
ART 180 is open from 10am to 3pm Monday through Thursday supporting your area by providing a judgement-free venue that enables creative self-expression while also developing and promoting young creators through exhibitions, performances, public art, publications, and other means.
Materials & Supplies Near You
These art stores are good places to buy new supplies or materials:
By redistributing waste products to the community for artistic and educational projects Scrap Creative Reuse promotes sustainability, creativity, and community engagement.
Plaza Artists & Picture Framing has been a good place to buy fine art materials, bespoke framing services, creative presents, and gain knowledge through demos, classes, and workshops since 1960.
Dollar Tree is a good spot to buy cheap art materials near you.
Shows & Events
There are some really cool art shows, events, and festivals in your area like:
The RVA Street Art Festival celebrates local and national artistic talent while also revitalizing neglected areas and raising funds for arts education. The wall will be transformed into a canvas of mixed-media by renowned regional, national, and worldwide creators including painted murals, projection lighting, landscape art, and more.
The RVA Street Art Festival has supported local children’s art education since its start in 2012 by raising funds and exposure for community and public school art organizations and programs. The festival has grown into an anticipated event and an important resource for the creative community discovering and promoting local talent, regenerating neighborhoods in need of beautification, and cooperating with loyal sponsors.
For a nationally recognized juried art show that allows you to view and purchase fine original work created by top-quality artists and craftspeople from Virginia and throughout the country check out Arts in the Park.
The Richmond Folk Festival is one of the state’s most popular festivals attracting tourists from all over the country to the historic downtown riverside to celebrate the roots, depth, and diversity of American culture via song, dance, traditional crafts, storytelling, and food.
Every month the First Friday Art Walk is held in the Richmond Arts District on Broad Street and in the surrounding part of town. You can expect for many of the best galleries and museums in your area to be involved and a lot of fun to be had.
Art Dealers & Appraisers
Art dealers and appraisers near you are where you can buy new unique pieces or learn the value of something you already own:
Freeman’s Southeast has a carefully designed approach to the sale of each unique collection by providing a range of formal valuation reports for consignment, insurance, taxation, collection management, and estate planning purposes.
Crossroads Art Center is a cultural resource and an active participant in the dynamic local arts community representing over 225 creators.
International contemporary artists, glass makers, and sculptors all work with Chasen Galleries and since 1983 they’ve been dedicated to matching clients with the ideal item of art for their home or space.
Walking Tours
When the weather is nice walk around outside and see unique local art on one of these tours:
The Northside Artists’ Open Studio is an annual pre-holiday art walk and sale hosted within seven private Sherwood Park and Laburnum Park homes as well as the commons area of Ginter Place and this art walk is free to attend.
The Canal Walk has been a staple of the city for decades entertaining visitors and residents alike stretching 1.25 miles along the James River and Kanawha and Haxall Canals with access points at nearly every block between 5th and 17th Streets.
Don’t forget about the First Friday Art Walk on and near Broad Street in the local arts district either.
Sculptures & Statues
Another fun option for a pleasant afternoon would be to check out some of these statues and sculptures:
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Sculpture Garden at 200 N Arthur Ashe Blvd
Virginia Washington Monument at 1000 Bank St
Reconciliation Statue at 5th and E Main st
Reaching Towards Warmer Suns at 1200 Brander St
Mini Statue of Liberty at 3215 E Broad St
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Sculpture Garden is a state-funded, privately endowed educational institution established for the benefit of local residents.
The Virginia Washington Monument is often known as the Washington Monument and is a neoclassical statue of George Washington in the public plaza dating from the 19th century.
Stephen Broadbent created the Reconciliation Statue which is a half-ton bronze sculpture.
Reaching Towards Warmer Suns is a public art installation that was first installed along the banks of the Powhatan River where some of the first enslaved African Americans touched soil in the new world.
A modest replica of the Statue of Liberty stands proudly on the grounds of the Chimbarazo Hospital Museum on the Richmond National Battlefield.
Richmond Art Classes
Whether you are trying to find private lessons or group classes for kids, teens, or adults some of the best Richmond art schools can be found at:
Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts was founded in 1928 and is one of the greatest arts and design schools in the country.
Through community participation, innovative programming, and experiential education, Oakwood Arts makes art and professions in the creative industries accessible to all. Classes and seminars focusing on the digital and technical skills students need to succeed in the creative workforce are part of the programs.
Hand / Thrown Ceramics Studio is more than simply a ceramics studio because it’s a place where artists, friends, families, and the general public may come together to explore and create.
Art classes in your area are also available at other places we have mentioned like Plaza Artist Materials & Picture Framing, Studio Two Three, and the Visual Arts Center.
Studios For Rent Near You
You might be able to find empty studio space that is ready to be rented at:
Studio Two Three has seminars, memberships, studio rentals, an event space, and a mobile print and photo creating studio.
Artists, entrepreneurs, and creatives may design, direct, and develop their ambitions in a spacious, cheap, and collaborative atmosphere at Plant Zero.
The Visual Arts Center of Richmond, Art Works, Ghosprint Gallery, and Hand / Thrown Ceramics Studio might also have studio space available.
Framing
When you need to find Richmond art framing head to:
Rick’s Bespoke Frame + Gallery specializes in custom frame design and construction and you’ll be able to buy a broad range of frames, matting, glass, and other alternatives for your unique project in the shop which is full of ideas, inspiration, and framing samples.
Fan Frame and Fine Art is a custom framing company that combines cutting-edge technology with old-world craftsmanship.
Conservation materials are used at Richmond Frame & Design who has a variety of framing design options.
Fralin Art & Frame enjoys being entrusted with preserving a piece of your narrative in the way that it deserves and they can construct display frames, shadowboxes, wall cases, tabletop vitrines, and pedestals.
Corporate & Museum Frame specializes in museum services and can frame paintings, prints, drawings, diplomas, collectibles, fabrics, and photos.
Plaza Artist Materials & Picture Framing also does framing.
Well guys, we did our best the full art scene near you. We listed the best local galleries, museums, events, shows, supply stores, dealers, appraisers, walking tours, sculptures, classes, studios, and framers in your area.
If you made it all the way to the end then you are probably as much of an art lover as we are. You can let us know about any of your own tips and tricks in the comments at the end of the post, or please also let us know if we got anything wrong or if anything we posted has become dated.
Have fun going to the galleries, museums, buying supplies, or doing anything that has to do with art in Richmond!
This post and all of the posts on our site are edited by Dan Soloman who has been a huge fan of art since he was a little kid. His mother was a good local artist, and she taught him the trade from a very early age. He studied art and its history in both high school and college, has worked at multiple galleries, and recently has begun creating and editing online content for this site and some other online media platforms.
