VMFA Blog

A blog by staff and others about the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Archery Pavilions: Sponsor the Location of Athletic Feats of the Manchu Heritage & Help VMFA Build the Forbidden City

When you come to VMFA tomorrow you’ll see 3D printers at work in the Atrium. They’re printing the hundreds of tiny buildings that make up the Forbidden City in honor of the upcoming special exhibition, which opens Oct 18. This printing project is part of a crowdfunding campaign to support the museum’s exhibition program. Your tax-deductible donations support all…

Evergreen Enterprises Announces Matching Gift

Since its launch on September 23, more than 75 people have participated in the campaign to Help VMFA Build the Forbidden City.  From here in Richmond’s Museum District to Ashland, Norfolk, Danville and even as far away as Barcelona, Spain, the idea of creating a 21st-century Forbidden City using 3D printers has sparked curiosity, donations…

Jazz Group Meets Famed Painter and South African Embassy Officials

The Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Music has been delighted to welcome back students and faculty from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) from Durban, South Africa. For the past three years, musicians from VCU and UKZN have participated in the Jazz Bridge exchange program. During this year’s exchange, the South African five students and two faculty members…

3D Printing: Extruders, G-codes and Filament … Oh My!

Recently, in the VMFA Design Department, we’ve had the challenge of printing two 3D, scale models of the Forbidden City, totaling over 1,400 buildings. One model will be complete for the exhibition opening and the second is being built in the Atrium, starting now and continuing through the run of Forbidden City (closing January 11), so…

Meridian Gate: Sponsor the City’s Tallest Structure & Help VMFA Build the Forbidden City

Starting tomorrow, 3D printers will begin humming away in the Atrium at VMFA. They’re printing the hundreds of tiny buildings that make up the Forbidden City in honor of the upcoming special exhibition, which opens Oct 18. This printing project is part of a crowdfunding campaign  to support the museum’s exhibition program, with your tax-deductible donations…

RVA Mashup: Richmond Street Artists & South African Artist Esther Mahlangu

Just days after South African artist Esther Mahlangu, 78, began her month-long residency at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, two of Richmond’s established street artists – Mickael Broth and Andre Shank [a.k.a. Bombproof or Bmbprf] paid a visit to her work. Mahlangu, the most renowned artist of South Africa’s Ndebele people, has taken the…

Hardywood Brewery and VMFA Team up to Create a Forbidden Beer

You don’t often get to use “beer” and “art exhibition” in the same sentence. But you will beginning on October 4 when Hardywood Park Craft Brewery unveils its new Belgian white ale specially brewed in honor of VMFA’s upcoming special exhibition Forbidden City: Imperial Treasure from the Palace Museum, Beijing (opens October 18). By celebrating…

On September 13 Celebrate Latin American Art – Colombia!

Enjoy many traditions of Colombian culture at Saturday’s free family event, Sep 13, 11 am – 3 pm. Please use this agenda to plan your visit, and enjoy. VMFA brings the world to Virginia. Traditional Vallenato, Joropo, and Cumbia Music, performed by Colombia Tropical | Atrium, Level 1 11 am, 12:30 & 1:45 pm Traditional…

Esther Mahlangu

Renowned South African artist painting now at VMFA

Few people have watched the creation of a work of art that is a part of a museum’s permanent collection. However, as of today, VMFA gives you that unique opportunity as renowned South African artist Esther Mahlangu paints two mural-scale works to serve as a gateway to the museum’s African Art Gallery. These 9- by…

Art History Classes Expand Your Knowledge—and Love—of Art

Did you know that the VMFA has been offering art history classes for adults for more than 40 years? Though we still have traditional lecture-style art history classes, we have evolved over the years to also offer one- and two-part introductory “101” courses that combine lectures and gallery exploration. This allows students to take advantage…