Museums such as the Chrysler Museum and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts are filled with pieces from ancient to modern times with famous and celebrated artists. There are also places like the Torpedo Factory or the LibertyTown Arts Workshop, which feature various local artists and small galleries, where some artists actively work inside! Many museums or centers such as the Hermitage Museum and Garden offer art or antique collections, gorgeous garden grounds, and river views. In this article, we will discover these various art-filled sites further.
1. Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia
First, the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia has stunning collections of ancient art, modern art, glass art, and everything in between. According to the museum’s website, they have over 35,000 objects, art, and artifacts. The museum has ancient art and glasswork with striking clay pottery from South America, statues and sculptures from Asia, modern art, an Impressionist wing, statues from Ancient Rome, and curated exhibitions of African art.
The Chrysler also has various other galleries for chinaware, a large glass section for sculptural and art glass, and American art. The Chrysler Museum is also known for its Perry Glass Studio, a studio to the side of the museum where trained glass blowers and creators often make art and hold classes. The Perry Glass studio is currently undergoing renovations to provide a larger, updated space. The museum offers many fun events and programs, one can get involved in if they are local. The Chrysler Museum will beckon you back to truly get the scope of the grandiosity and excellent curation of their collections!
2. The Torpedo Factory – Alexandria, VA
When walking the historic streets of Alexandria, Virginia, which is close to Washington D.C., you’ll see various adorable shops, boutiques, and restaurants. Head towards the Potomac waterfront. You will come across a large older building that, as its name states, used to be a factory for torpedoes.
The Torpedo factory was a munitions plant and in 1974 it was transformed into an art center, which now holds the nation’s largest collection of artists working under one roof. Many studios have artists actively working within them, and their art includes jewelry art, ceramics, photography, painting, stained glass, and much more.
Themed gallery spaces also make it easy to find specific kinds of art with multiple artists who specialize in one craft shown in one space such as the Scope gallery, which features all sorts of ceramics and pottery, the Printmakers Inc. gallery which features artists who create etchings, lithography, serigraphs, or mixed media prints. There is also the Potomac Fiber Arts Gallery, which features hand-made fabric hats, art, scarves, jewelry, and more. Find your next handmade mug, artwork, or perhaps an artist friend as you stroll through the amazing artist-at-work facility. And if you are staying in the Washington D.C. area longer, be sure to check out this guide to all of the world-class museums in the United States Capitol.
3. Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art – Virginia Beach, VA
We touched on the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, but if you are spending more time towards the beach, the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art is the way to go for any art-lover. The MOCA mainly offers rotating modern and local art exhibitions, which often circulate around particular themes such as environmental issues, local artists, women’s rights, and more, lasting for about 6-7 months.
The MOCA also offers enjoyable studio programs for children and adults such as surreal landscape art, ceramics, and crochet classes. Another fun event that the MOCA hosts is the Annual Virginia MOCA Boardwalk Art Show, which is typically held in late September or early October. Professional artists and makers gather in their tents lined along the boardwalk near the ocean to showcase their art for people to purchase and enjoy.
4. Taubman Museum of Art – Roanoke, VA
The Taubman Museum is located in the eastern hills and mountains of the metro area of Roanoke, Virginia. The Museum offers an array of international and American artists from all different periods and offers around 25-20 different exhibitions per year. There are also permanent artworks from artists such as Thomas Cowperthwaite Eakins, John Singer Sargent, Purvis Young, Petah Coyne and John Cage, to name just a few. Whether you are local to the area or just passing through Roanoke, this Museum is a must-see!
5. Hermitage Museum and Gardens – Norfolk, VA
The Virginia Beach and Norfolk area has a few wonderful art museums and historical sites, the Hermitage is one that you won’t want to miss. This gorgeous historical house from the early 20th century was transformed into a museum and sits on a plot of land filled with fields, gardens, trees, and a stunning view of the Elizabeth River. The house was originally built by Florence and William Sloane, wealthy New Yorkers in the late 1800s who ran textile mills. The Sloane’s were very involved in the arts and this passion expanded into the Chrysler Museum of Art.
The Sloan’s Hermitage Foundation became the Hermitage Museum, as they contributed their house, its contents, and the property—leaving a lasting positive effect on Norfolk’s arts and educational community.
The museum’s collection includes various paintings, decorative arts, and textiles, as well as rotating galleries. A major highlight is its Asian art collection, which includes a Neolithic jade Cong, an 18th-century coral-carved snuffed bottle, Indian and Buddha statues, and much more. The Museum also hosts large-scale events such as weddings and free community events. If you are exploring the Norfolk, Virginia, area, the Hermitage is ready for you to visit.
6. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts – Richmond, VA
When in Richmond, Virginia, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts should be on your list of museums to experience in Virginia. The Museum features permanent exhibits of early American art, photography, European art, African art, Asian art, decorative art, Indigenous American art, and more. An interesting permanent exhibit to note in the museum’s collection of Fabergé and Russian decorative arts. The collection includes about 200 objects attributed to being Fabergé or “Old Russia” style such as enamels or silver works. The assortment includes imperial Russian Fabergé eggs, a silver kovsh traditional Russian drinking vessel, an inlaid decorative table, figurines, and other delicate objects from the 1800s to early 1900s.
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts also features many temporary exhibitions. This large museum also has various other features such as programs and classes for youth, teens, adults, and educators. One can also take a guided tour of the museum or utilize the Museum’s Margaret R. & Robert M. Freeman Library, and for families there is an interactive family lounge where children and adults are encouraged to play, rest, and explore with artistic hands-on activities. The VMFA in Richmond offers so much for anyone to explore, whether solo, with family, or with friends!
7. LibertyTown Arts Workshop – Fredericksburg, VA
Museums are interesting places to visit, but we also wanted to be sure to add some more fun art centers as well for those who love local artists. Fredericksburg has much to offer for all the history buffs, including Fredericksburg military park, the Hugh Mercer Apothecary shop, Chatham Manor, and more. As you explore around the town, you should stop by LibertyTown Art Workshop. This workshop offers a pottery studio, art classes, and holds various gallery studio areas for local artists. As you wander through the studios you will find an array of artwork from pottery to realistic paintings, woodwork, fabric art, abstract paintings, sculptures, and many other fun art forms. After visiting, the chances are high that you will come out with a few unique gifts for you or your friends.
8. Workhouse Arts Center – Lorton, Virginia
Lorton, Virginia, is between Fredericksburg and Alexandria, Virginia, here you’ll find the Workhouse Arts Center. The Workhouse Arts Center has a unique history in that it utilizes the land and some structures from the area, which used to be a reformatory. The arts center acknowledges the buildings’ past, while now bringing new life and events into the building.
The space has become an exciting place for the community to gather through the arts, whether through local artist gallery showings, visual art workshops and camps, plays, or dance lessons, the space allows for an array of possibilities and fun. The center allows 60 plus local artists to showcase their paintings, jewelry, and photography.
Whether you’re in northern Virginia or southern Virginia, or somewhere in between, there are plenty of art museums and art centers to explore! Each offers stunning collections of local artists’ work or artwork from centuries past. And if you don’t feel like traveling, check out this article on free online museum tours to enjoy without leaving your couch.
