The Richmond Area
Art Galleries
The following list is provided as a convenience for those interested in visiting Richmond, Virginia - home of the University of Richmond. No endorsement of these accommodations on the part of the University is implied or should be assumed.
Non-profit Galleries
Anderson Gallery. Virginia Commonwealth University's art gallery, situated at 907 1/2 W. Franklin St., offers eight galleries on three floors. A mix of touring shows, showcases for student and faculty work and spotlights on regional and national artists. Tuesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Info: 828-1522.
Artspace Gallery. Founded in 1988, this artist-run, non-profit co-op is located in the Plant Zero Art Center at Zero E. 4th St. Artspace is dedicated to showcasing new and unfamiliar work through monthly exhibitions and performances. Wednesday-Sunday noon-4 p.m. Info: 232-6464
Elegba Folklore Society Cultural Center. Founded in 1990 by its artistic director, Janine Bell, this society, based at 101 E. Broad St., provides a strong African and African-American perspective in three art shows a year, performances and classes in African dance, drumming and crafts. Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Info: 644-3900.
Visual Arts Center of Richmond. Founded in 1963 in a house on Church Hill, this 1812 W. Broad St. institution is a center for studio art classes and workshops as well as art exhibitions, many of national importance, in its two galleries. Monday-Friday, 9 p.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, 1-4 p.m. Info: 353-0094.
Harnett Print Study Center. The Harnett Print Study Center extends the University of Richmond Museums' mission to provide a forum for the study and appreciation of the visual arts. It serves the university's students, faculty, and staff, as well as the greater Richmond area and national and international audiences. Info: 289-8276.
James Center Lobby and James Center Atrium. The lobby, at 901 E. Cary St., and the atrium, at 1021 E. Cary St., have played host to group shows involving some of the Richmond area's larger art organizations since they opened in the mid-1980s. Always open. Info: 344-3232.
The Judaic Art Gallery at Temple Beth-El. Founded in 1997 in the Learning Center adjacent to the sanctuary at 3330 Grove Ave., this gallery specializes in Jewish art. It offers lectures and workshops in addition to mounting about four shows a year. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Info: 355-3564.
Lora Robins Gallery. The Lora Robins Gallery of Design from Nature, University Museums, has collections representing cultures and countries around the world, from ancient works and cultural artifacts to contemporary art. It also offers the chance to explore the natural treasures of our planet with the museum's extensive holdings of shells, fossils, minerals, and gemstones. In addition to its installations of the permanent collection, the museum presents changing special exhibitions. Info: 289-8276.
Main Art Gallery. Located at 1537 W. Main St., Main Art Gallery is a commercial gallery that features a new show every month with a reception the first Friday of each month. During summer, the gallery features two shows, each mounted for two months, with a reception the first Friday of the month the show starts. Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. -6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Info: 355-6151.
Joel and Lila Harnett Museum of Art. The Joel and Lila Harnett Museum of Art mission is to be a forum for the visual arts and a catalyst for widely varied issues of visual expression, art research, and scholarship within the university and throughout the greater Richmond community and region. To further this mission the museum regularly presents exhibitions, lectures, openings, gallery talks, workshops, concerts, symposia and other programs. Info: 289-8276.
Sara D. November Gallery. Located in a foyer and adjoining hallways at the Jewish Community Center, 5403 Monument Ave., this gallery, which was dedicated under its present name in 1984, mounts about 10 shows a year of both Jewish and more general concern. It is best-known in Richmond's art community for its annual "Undiscovered Artists" and "Undiscovered Photograhers" exhibitions. Monday - Thursday, 7:30 a.m. -10 p.m.; Friday, 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Info: 288-6091.
1708 Gallery. Now located at 103 E. Broad St., this gallery has served as a national model for artist-run galleries since it was founded 21 years ago at 1708 E. Main St. 1708 normally mounts three shows monthly in its three gallery spaces on two floors. Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 1-5 p.m. (Closed in August.) Info: 643-7829.
Commercial Galleries
Astra Design. Founded in 1993, this 15 North Belmont Avenue Gallery mounts more than half a dozen solo and group shows a year devoted to "contemporary functional and fine art." The gallery represents about 25 artists, about half of whom live in the Richmond area, and specializes in furniture and jewelry. Tuesday-Friday, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Info: 257-5467.
Barber Gallery. This 5812½ Grove Ave. space deals exclusively in paintings and reproductions of paintings by Virginia artist John Garber, who specializes in marine images and cityscapes. New works appear quarterly. Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Info: 282-2151.
Brazier Fine Art. Founded in 1995 by artist Loryn Brazier at 3401 W. Cary St., this gallery specializes in contemporary realist and impressionist painting in 11 annual solo shows that spotlight the 25 artists the gallery represents. Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Info: 359-2787.
Coincidence Gallery. Founded in 1996 by Kathryn Henry-Choisser, its owner and director, this spacious walk-up space at 2401 W. Main St. spotlights primarily on Richmond and regional painters, sculptors, photographers and mixed-media artists. Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Info: 353-5102.
De Febo & Taylor Studio and Gallery. Founded in 1998 by painter Donna De Febo and sculptor Jeff Taylor, this facility at 225 E. Broadway in Hopewell shows works by painters, sculptors and craft artists from Hopewell and the surrounding area. Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Info: 541-7939.
Eric Schindler Gallery. Founded in 1960, Richmond's oldest commercial gallery occupies an 1850 brick house at 2305 E. Broad. It exhibits paintings, sculptures, drawings and prints in solo and group exhibitions that change monthly. Tuesday- Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, noon-4 p.m.; Sunday, 1-4 p.m.; except in August, when the gallery doesn't keep a set schedule. Info: 644-5005.
43rd Street Gallery. Located at 1412 W. 43rd St., this commercial gallery is primarily a showcase for the pottery for Robin Cage, who owns the gallery and maintains a studio there, and Lee Hazelgrove. It also shows pottery, twig furniture and other objects in craft media by other artists. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Info: 233-1758.
The Gallery at Corporate & Museum Frame. Founded in 1995, this gallery mounts about 10 exhibitions a year, mostly contemporary paintings, prints and drawings by local and nationally known artists. Its juried photography exhibition is becoming a fixture in January. Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (Closed Saturdays in August.) Info: 643-6858.
Gallery 5800. Located above Suitable for Framing at 5800 Grove Ave., this gallery shows contemporary work by local and national artists in painting, sculpture and craft media in regularly rotating exhibits. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Info: 285-0774.
Old World Prints. Housed in an ornate 1921 bank building at 2601 Floyd Ave., this gallery occasionally mounts formal exhibitions. It is best known, however, for inventory of more than 2 million antiquarian prints and reproductions, some of which are hand-colored on the premises. Old World Prints was founded in Crozet in 1971 and moved into its current quarters 2½ years ago. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Info: 213-0600.
Parks Duffey Gallery. This gallery, which opened in 1998, is primarily a showcase for the paintings of self-taught artist Parks Duffey of Petersburg. Reproductions of Duffey's paintings and works by several other artist also are on sale. Tuesday-Friday, noon-6 p.m.; Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Info: 359-0017.
Phenomenon Gallery. Founded in 1987, this fine crafts gallery mounts six to eight shows a year to spotlight local and nationally known artists working in a wide variety of craft media. Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Info: 359-3283.
Reynolds Gallery. Founded in 1978 in the home of its owner-director, Beverly Reynolds, the Reynolds Gallery moved to its present two-story 1514 W. Main St. location in 1987. Its mission, according to Reynolds, is "to exhibit and support exceptional artists working on a regional level as well as artists who are nationally and internationally known." Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Info: 355-6553.
Shockoe Bottom Arts Center. Located in a former cigarette factory at 2001 E. Grace St., it has provided studio and exhibition space to about 100 artists. It also operates the Tobacco Gallery and other spaces for exhibitions that change monthly, including the gallery's juried all-media shows. The center was founded in 1994 by Rusty Davis, its director. Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Info: 643-7959.
Uptown Gallery. Founded 1992, this co-op at 1305 W. Main St. numbers more than 30 members. Bimonthly shows showcase two "featured artists" in addition to work by other members' work. The gallery also offers painting and drawing classes and workshops. Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Info: 353-8343.
Other Non-profit Art Spaces
Barret House. About six art shows a year are mounted in the 1842 Greek Revival house at 15 S. Fifth St. that serves as the headquarters of the Virginia Foundation for Architecture. The shows usually offer art by architects or art about architecture. Art has been shown here since the house was fully restored in 1990. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
James Center Lobby and James Center Atrium. The lobby, at 901 E. Cary St., and the atrium, at 1021 E. Cary St., have played host to group shows involving some of the Richmond area's larger art organizations since they opened in the mid-1980s. Always open. Info: 344-3232.
Richmond Public Library. The main library at 101 E. Franklin St. changes its array of solo and group exhibitions monthly in the Gellman Room, the Second Floor Gallery and the Art & Music Foyer. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday,9 a.m.-1 p.m. Info: 780-4740.
Westminster-Canterbury. The retirement center at 1600 Westbrook Ave. changes art shows monthly in the first-floor corridor of its main building. Its permanent collection of Virginia artists' work is scattered throughout the public areas. Visitors should ask for a self-guided-tour book at the front desk. Daily, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Info: 264-6094.
