Features

Richmond-Based Artists Lily Cox-Richard and Michael Jevon Demps Present walking with, an Exhibition Rooted in Responses to their Walks Along Richmond’s James River

November 11, 2019 Features

Richmond-based artists Lily Cox-Richard and Michael Jevon Demps forged a connection during walks along the James River and those experiences inspired the artists to create walking with, an exhibition of work that opens in the True F. Luck Gallery at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond on Friday, Nov. 15. Both artists are professors at […]

Over 500 Handmade, Ceramic Bowls and Mugs are Ready for the VisArts Chili Throwdown, Thanks to Local Potter, Jess Hardin

October 01, 2019 Features

The Visual Arts Center of Richmond will host its sixth annual VisArts Chili Throwdown on Friday, October 4. Adult admission to the event includes chili from over 25 local restaurants and a handmade ceramic bowl—made in VisArts’ clay studios. In the months leading up to this fall fundraiser, Chili Throwdown Resident Artist, Jess Hardin, has […]

Jeweler Hilary Hertzler Brings Vibrant Collection of Handmade Jewelry to Richmond as Craft + Design Featured Artist, November 22-24

August 29, 2019 Features

Philadelphia-based jeweler Hilary Hertzler started her career in interior architecture now she’s a full-time jeweler, selling her work all over the U.S. The Visual Arts Center of Richmond has chosen Hertzler as the featured artist for its 55th Annual Craft + Design Show, making her work the focal point of the event’s promotional materials. It’s […]

ArtVenture Summer Camp Teachers Introduce 6 New Fiber Art Classes

May 23, 2019 Features

At the Visual Arts Center of Richmond’s ArtVenture Summer Camp, kids get the chance to make art alongside professional artists in a variety of art media. This summer, VisArts is offering a slew of new classes in the fiber studio, many of which are being taught by graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University’s art education masters […]

North Carolina-Based Illustrator Kristen Solecki is the Artist Behind VisArts’ Cat-filled Summer Catalog

April 16, 2019 Features

The Visual Arts Center of Richmond’s summer class registration opens on Wednesday, April 17 and VisArts recently released a special catalog, illustrated by North Carolina-based artist Kristen Solecki, the center’s current Illustrator-in-Residence. Solecki said the concept for VisArts’ catalog came from an idea about her own studio space. “The inspiration for the summer catalog is pretty much my dream studio,” she […]

Solo Exhibition by Susan Iverson Explores the Complexity of the Word “No”

April 08, 2019 Features

An exhibition of work by Susan Iverson titled “The Color of No” opens at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond on Friday, April 12. “The Color of No” showcases over 40 colorful tapestries produced by Iverson over the last five years, each emblazoned with the word “no.” An established, Richmond-based artist and master weaver, Iverson taught in Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Craft […]

VisArts to Honor Former Board Member Brian Jackson with Distinguished Service Award at 33rd Annual Collectors’ Night

March 01, 2019 Features

Local attorney Brian Jackson will join the ranks of the Visual Arts Center of Richmond’s past Distinguished Service Award winners on March 16 when he is honored for his contributions to the community arts center at its 33rd annual Collectors’ Night art auction. During the seven years he served on VisArts’ board, Jackson led the way on […]

Kids Make Art with Professional Artists at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond’s Summer Camp

February 14, 2019 Features

At the Visual Arts Center of Richmond’s ArtVenture Summer Camp, kids make art with the help of professional, working artists. Each summer, VisArts brings in painters, woodworkers, potters, photographers, graphic designers, filmmakers and other creative educators who design classes specifically for kids. These artists often have decades of experience in their medium or a bachelor […]

Richmond-based Illustrator Jamie Douglas Celebrates Artists of All Ages in VisArts’ Spring 2019 Catalog Cover Design

January 18, 2019 Features

Richmond-based Illustrator Jamie Douglas is the artist behind the cover design of the Visual Arts Center of Richmond’s spring 2019 class catalog. As part of VisArts’ Illustrator-in-Residence program, Douglas created a design that celebrates the idea that people of all ages can learn and grow as artists. “I wanted to make a picture about growing up […]

Erika Carter, Author of Lucky You, to Teach VisArts’ Yearlong Novel Writing Class

December 13, 2018 Features

Finding the courage to write a novel isn’t easy, but the Visual Arts Center of Richmond is giving local writers the perfect chance to put pen to paper. VisArts’ yearlong novel writing class kicks off again this January, giving students the chance to spend an entire year learning from and workshopping their writing with award-winning […]

Curator Q&A: Lauren Ross on Emmy Bright, Jessica Heikes and Leigh Suggs Exhibition

December 05, 2018 Features

The Visual Arts Center of Richmond will host an opening reception for “I><YOU><WE,” an exhibition of work by Emmy Bright, Jessica Heikes and Leigh Suggs, on Friday, December 7 at 5:30 p.m. This group show is the culmination of three artists’ years-long process of collaborative dialogue, art-making and friendship. Guest curated by St. Louis-based curator […]

Ceramicists Kaitlyn and Ryan Lawless Bring Porcelain Wares for the Modern Home and Table to Craft + Design, November 16-18

October 18, 2018 Features

With less than one month until the Visual Arts Center of Richmond’s 54th Annual Craft + Design Show, Detroit-based ceramicists Kaitlyn and Ryan Lawless are busy creating an array of porcelain table wares to fill their booth at the show. VisArts chose the couple as the featured artists for the event and made their work […]

VCU Undergraduate Advertising Class Sparks Inspiration for VisArts’ Newest Event: 48-to-Create

October 10, 2018 Features

A group of Virginia Commonwealth University students will see an event that they only dreamt about come to life at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond on Friday, October 19. The new event, called 48-to-Create, is a weekend-long make-a thon that gives Richmond’s artists and writers uninterrupted time and space to finish old projects and […]

Vivian Keasler Letterpress + Book Arts Studio Honors Longtime VisArts Student, Former Board Member and Donor

July 30, 2018 Features

Vivian Keasler has taken classes in nearly all of the Visual Arts Center of Richmond’s studios and soon there will be a brand-new studio named after her. Thanks to a generous gift from Keasler, a vacated section of VisArts’ staff offices will be transformed into the new Vivian Keasler Letterpress + Book Arts Studio. The […]

ArtVenture Campers Can Explore the World of Fashion Design in Sarah Brown’s July Patternmaking Class

July 12, 2018 Features

During the weeks of July 16 and July 30, ArtVenture campers can explore the world of fashion design with Sarah Brown, a graduate of VCUarts’ fashion design program and a lifelong sewing enthusiast. Brown is teaching a new class called Patternmaking for Fashion Design for students ages 13 to 14. Campers will explore patternmaking, the […]

Grace Glanden Annual Scholarship Established to Share Her Love of Art

July 02, 2018 Features

Grace Glanden spent the summer of 2017 doing one of her favorite things: making art. Grace loved her time at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond’s ArtVenture summer camp. “Grace was always, always making something,” said her mother, Melissa Glanden. In August 2017, 8-year-old Grace passed away unexpectedly from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a genetic heart condition […]

Over 15 New Artists Show Their Work at VisArts’ Annual “[Work]” Exhibition

June 13, 2018 Features

The Visual Arts Center of Richmond will open its annual “[Work]” exhibition on Friday, June 15. The show features over 60 pieces of art created by VisArts faculty, staff and board members. This year, there are over 15 new participants. “One of the most exciting things about this year’s [Work] show is how many new […]

From ArtVenture Volunteer to ArtVenture Teacher, Recent Virginia Tech Grad Justin Lau Introduces New Summer Camp Class: Think Like a Designer

June 07, 2018 Features

Each summer, the Visual Arts Center of Richmond offers ArtVenture, a summer camp program for kids between the ages of 5 and 14. In 2017, Justin Lau was a superstar volunteer, and this summer, he’s back to teach a brand-new class called Think Like a Designer. Lau is back in his hometown of Richmond after […]

VisArts Teacher Ingrid Bernhardt Returns to ArtVenture with Two Beading Classes for 9 to 12-Year-Olds

May 30, 2018 Features

Ingrid Bernhardt started beading and weaving as a young girl. Her mother handed her a Family Circle Magazine and she began making beaded flowers using the patterns she discovered inside. This summer, she’s looking forward to returning to the Visual Arts Center of Richmond, where she’ll continue to share her lifelong love of the craft […]

VisArts Boasts Strong Presence Among RVA Clay Tour Exhibitors

May 23, 2018 Features

About one third of the ceramic artists on the RVA Clay Tour have a connection to the Visual Arts Center of Richmond. VisArts’ clay studio is among 21 ceramic studios and workshops in Richmond that will open to the public on June 2 and 3 to showcase the work of nearly 100 artists as part […]

VisArts Invites Richmond Community to Help Decorate Six Little Free Libraries Created by Local Woodworker Mark Rickey

May 16, 2018 Features

The Visual Arts Center of Richmond will host its annual spring open house, Play Day, on Saturday, May 19. This year’s theme is printmaking and book arts, so the center is inviting guests to help decorate a collection of handmade Little Free Libraries. The libraries will serve as neighborhood book exchanges where people can take […]

Make Space Spotlight: Courtney and Danielle

May 08, 2018 Features

The Make Space mentoring program at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond gave Courtney Lebow the confidence to pursue middle school art education and the chance to make a new friend. Courtney was paired with her 11-year-old mentee, Danielle, during the 2016-17 cycle of Make Space, a program that brings sixth-grade girls from Anna Julia […]

Recent VCUarts Graduates Maintain Their Creative Practice in VisArts’ Studios

May 02, 2018 Features

For recent VCUarts graduates, the Visual Arts Center of Richmond is an inviting space where they can continue making art. Jonah Hacinas, Austin Miles and Elson Bickford are part of the first wave of studio monitors who VisArts brought on board to help supervise the center’s 15 studios during designated open studio hours. Students have […]

VisArts Volunteer Spotlight: Yvette Wilson

April 25, 2018 Features

Yvette Wilson is a friendly and familiar face in the Visual Arts Center of Richmond’s fiber studio and at many of the community art center’s events. This year alone, she’s helped with Trish Tillman’s exhibition opening, Collectors’ Night and the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. In 2017, she devoted time to ArtVenture Summer Camp, the […]

VisArts Releases Summer 2018 Catalog Featuring Illustrations by Cathryn Virginia

April 11, 2018 Features

Richmond-based illustrator Cathryn Virginia created the cover of the Visual Arts Center of Richmond’s summer 2018 catalog and used the opportunity to weave together two of her biggest passions. The cover design features a pair of hands embroidering a river scene and is a reference to sewing, Virginia’s creative pursuit when she isn’t busy working […]