VMFA exterior.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, or VMFA for short, is an art museum in Richmond, Virginia, which opened in 1936. The museum is owned and operated by the Commonwealth of Virginia, while private donations, funds and general supports are also used for the support of specific programs and acquisitions of artworks. Admission to the museum and its general collection is free, while the museum membership provides free parking, free admission for special exhibitions, shop discounts, and other benefits.
Museum garden.
Artwork on view: Chloe, 2016; by Jaume Plensa (b. 1955).
VMFA is one of the first museums to be operated by state funds in the middle and south of America. It is also one of the largest art museums in North America. VMFA ranks as one of the top ten comprehensive art museums in the United States. The museum, together with the adjacent Virginia Historical Society, anchors the "Museum District" of Richmond, a historical area between Boulevard and Carytown in the upper Fan District.
VMFA exterior views, entrance and garden.
As a comprehensive art museum, VMFA has divided its encyclopedic, permanent collections into several broad curatorial departments as the galleries. They include:
African Art:
art from central and north Africa, before and after the colonial period.
American art:
classical, popular, and vernacular artworks from the United States.
Ancient American art:
art and relics from Indian Americans and pre-colonial South American empires.
Ancient art:
art and relics from ancient Egypt, Greece, Phrygian, Etruscan, Roman, and Byzantine civilizations.
Art Nouveau and Art Deco:
the museum’s highlight, including artworks from Hector Guimard, the Vienna Secession, Peter Behrens, and Frank Lloyd Wright.
East Asian art:
art from Imperial China, Japan and Korea.
European art:
this collections has classical and Renaissance works by Bacchiacca, Murillo, Poussin, Rosa, Gentileschi, Goya,and Bouguereau.
English silver:
a collection of 18th and 19th century English silver works.
Fabergé:
the world's largest collection of Fabergé eggs outside of Russia, includes five Imperial Easter Eggs.
The South Asian collection:
works from what is today India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Tibet.
Modern & Contemporary
Example/highlighted artworks.
Rotating Sphere (1968-69); Arnaldo Pomodoro (b. 1926);
Buddha Watching TV, 1974/1977; Nam June Paik (1932-2006);
American furniture art;
Art History Is Not Linear (VMFA), 2009; Ryan McGinness (b. 1972);
Special Exhibitions:
In addition to the permanent collections, VMFA presents special, usually season-long exhibitions of artwork from its own and others' collections, and work of active artists. Check https://vmfa.museum/exhibitions/at-the-museum/ for details.
VMFA interiors.
The museum also provides tours, family visits, young education programs, art experiences, and libraries for the public. Museum fellowship and residence are available for active artists and designers. The museum garden and cafe provide public space, dining and happy hour specials. Friday night events take place in the garden as well, featuring a variety of musical performances from local and national artists.
Museum Hours
Open 365 days a year.
Saturday to Wednesday: 10 am – 5 pm
Thursday and Friday: until 9 pm
Free admission for general exhibitions
Membership (year subscription fee)
Individual $60
Dual/Family $95
Student $10
Address
200 N. Boulevard, Richmond, VA 23220
Information
804.340.1400
Library
Mon – Fri: noon – 5 pm
Website
https://vmfa.museum