Visual Arts Center of Richmond, Richmond, VA Videos

Meet Studio Access Resident Ambrose Hernandez Godoy.
Ambrose Hernandez Godoy is a multinational and multidisciplinary artist born in Mexico City, but now resides in Richmond, Virginia. They work using themes of sarcastic body horror, Zapotec culture and mythology, queerness as a form of resistance, and the monstrous feminine. Recently they have been learning to work with clay to embody some of the themes they currently are exploring! The deadline to apply to the Fall + Winter Studio Access Residency is August 4 at 7:59pm. Apply before it is too late at visarts.org/artist-residencies

Visiting Artist in Residence: Veronica Jackson
Check out what visiting Artist in Residence Veronica Jackson has been up to in VisArts' studios! Her background encompasses the critical examination of visual culture. As an artist, she records, interprets, and makes aware the complexities in which humans exist and affect their social surroundings. As a recovering architect and interpretive designer, she creatively solves problems within virtual and built environments. Her visual art practice is a combination of past professional disciplines, present lived experiences, and the cache of contemporary and historic research accumulated. Veronica Jackson: Constellation of Blackness will be on display starting September 13-October 27,2024

Annual Writer in Residence Ty Phelps' shares an exclusive reading!
We had a great time celebrating Annual Writer-in-Residence Ty Phelps' at his exclusive reading event for his novel "Broken Shadows". We also enjoyed an artist performance by fellow resident Sam Christian and live music performance by Ty, Jordan, Erin and Andrea from Jojo & the Kickits! Thanks to all those that came out.

Meet 2024 Distinguished Service Award Recipient Stephanie McGrath!
Hear Stephanie share about what her favorite memory and what her favorite event is with VisArts! Come celebrate with us at the 38th Annual Collectors' Night presented by Dominon Energy tomorrow, May 11 at 6pm. Tickets are sold out, but don't miss your chance to bid on Silent Auction items at visarts.org/events/collectors-night See you then!

Don't Miss Your Chance to Win!
The 38th Annual Collectors' Night Raffle Tickets are now for sale through givesmart! You can purchase 1 for $30, 3 for $60 and 5 for $100. Purchase tickets to enter to win one of two amazing prizes: 🎟VisArts Artist Print Portfolio Package -Win more than 15 prints donated by local artists and partners. This collection includes lithographs, screenprints, photographs, giclée prints, and more. Contributing artists include Laurie Carnohan, Laura Loe, Em White, Oura Sananikone, Emma Knight, Barbara Tisserat courtesy of Studio Two Three, Casha Stempniewicz, Jordan Brown, Mary Holland, Alex Neckopolous, Alyssa Salomon, Emily Herr, Josh Stover, and others! 🎟Wine Raffle Package -Win a basket filled with a wide variety of bottles of wine valued at $1,000. Raffle Ticket Sales will close at 8:45pm and winners will be drawn after the close of the live auction on May 11! Purchase yours today at visarts.org/events/collectors-night

Preview Party was a blast!
Thanks to all those that came to the Preview Party last night. Don't miss your chance to bid on Silent Auction items that are now live! And save your seats by purchasing your tickets for our 38th Annual Collectors' Night presented by Dominion Energy on May 11. See you there!

Meet Studio Access Resident, Aaron Tran!
Aaron Tran is a multi-disciplinary Asian American artist from Virginia. He is currently focusing on painting and printmaking but excited to venture into new waters, as he builds his business TankStudio. See him at the Communication Arts Expo on Saturday, May 4th!

Meet Studio Access Resident: Destiny Martinez!
Meet Studio Access Resident, Destiny Martinez! Destiny Martinez is a 24-year-old photographer and filmmaker in Richmond, VA. She supports herself with her business “Ivy and Lace Photography”, which is predominantly a wedding photography business. Last year she taught photography at New Kent High School and in 2021 she graduated from Theatre VCU with a degree in theatre with a concentration in stage management. See her work and 12 other Studio Access Residents at tonight's opening reception of Slowly, We Drift at 5:30pm in the True F. Luck Gallery! @ivyandlacephoto www.destinymartinez.com

Meet Studio Access Resident: Tara Burke! Born in Paris, Virginia, Tara has lived and taught across Virginia, New Mexico and Colorado, returning to this green humidity to research home and place narratives using poetry and utilitarian archival practices (like family photo albums) in Appalachia. Her poems explore the queer body in relation to nature—which is everything—with a focus on the houses and places, bodies, and narratives that haunt us, complicating time and form. Often straddling genres, she is learning dark room photography, researching ancestry with historical context, and image manipulation to layer into the poetic practice. See their work at the upcoming Fall + Winter Studio Access Resident Exhibition on April 12th!

Meet Studio Access Resident: Levi Steele!
Levi Steele, also known as Better Days.lol in the local Richmond market scene, utilizes repurposed materials and queer aesthetics to envision a future through our dystopian present. Collecting trash and discarded objects from our local communities, Levi shows sustainability and queerness as one: transforming what is known into what is, re-contextualizing what we have into what we are, is by definition the act of being trans. Find out what they love about VisArts studios here!

Mud and Blood II at the Material Room March 15
We are so excited to co-partner with The Material Room for Mud and Blood II which will be on display from March 15th - March 24, 2024. The Material Room Gallery is located at 3119 West Marshall Street Join us for the opening reception on March 15th at 6pm! The auction runs from March 15th at 9:00am until March 24th at 7:59:59pm EST. Check out these works from artists from the first Mud & Blood event from 2021. Learn more about Mud and Blood by visiting visarts.org/exhibition/of-mud-blood-ii/

Surprising 2024 Master Teacher, Lauri Jenkins!
Congrats to our 2024 Shelly Shepherd Master Teacher, Lauri Jenkins! For the past 15 years, Lauri Jenkins, a skilled fiber artist originally from Patterson, New Jersey, has been crafting custom women’s skirts and garments, along with an array of sewn products, including handbags and wallets. She acquired her passion for sewing during high school, where she fell in love with the technical aspect of piecing fabric together, “the patterns, piecing things together, figuring things out, and using tools like scissors and rulers always excited me,” says Lauri. This fascination for her craft eventually led her to establish her Richmond-based business, The Laurianda Clothing Company, in 2015. Describing her creative process, Lauri emphasizes the importance of solitude. Being alone allows her to be free from distractions which she admits she’s prone to, “I’m a helpful person so if someone needs something, I’m inclined to stop and answer questions. When I’m alone and away from distractions, I can easily start thinking about my next move creatively.” Lauri says about her work which is inspired by colors, fabrics, the female form, and even the weather. Lauri started teaching at VisArts in 2016. We are so excited to celebrate her at this years Collectors Night on May 11!

Art is going up! We are honored to exhibit regional winners of the 2024 Scholastic Art + Writing Awards. Scholastics is one of the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for creative students in grades 7–12. The students work is amazing, and we can't wait to see it all on display February 2nd.

Meet Studio Access Resident: Rachel Azzinaro
Meet current Studio Access Resident, Rachel Azzinaro and hear about her experience so far in the residency and to take a sneak peek into what she is currently working on. This Wednesday, January 31 is the last day to apply for the 2024 Spring + Summer Studio Access Residency. Learn more by visiting visarts.org/artist-residencies and apply before the deadline!

Support VisArts this Giving Tuesday
It's giving Tuesday! Hear from our Director of Development, Matt Blakley and how your donation will make a difference for our programs here at VisArts! Support the creative life of everyone at visarts.org/give

Meet Studio Access Resident Emily Shreer
Meet Studio Access Resident Emily Shreer! Emily was born and raised in New York, and now lives in Richmond working in public health. She has found that, through printmaking and letterpress, she can draw connections between her experiences in community health, her research and ambitions in urban planning, and her love of art. Her current artwork explores the impact that infrastructure (and the historical forces that shaped it) continues to have on the physical, economic, and emotional health of Richmond’s neighborhoods. Join us on October 27 at 5:30pm, for the opening reception of the 2023 Spring + Summer Studio Access Resident Exhibition to see works by Emily and other residents!

VisArts’ annual exhibition of artwork by faculty, staff, and members of the board of directors. Learn about three works of art featured in this year's Exhibition through the artists that created them!