January
26
We are celebrating our 21st year of hosting art shows, providing studio workspace, and embracing Richmond’s thriving art community! This month, we are proud to showcase the Simply Photography exhibit featuring talented artists from all over Virginia. From stunning landscapes to captivating portraits, these artists showcase a variety of subjects and photographic methods that are sure to leave you in impressed.
In addition to the Simply Photography exhibit, we are excited to feature two solo shows by Wendy Nelson and Grace Whitley. And what’s a 4th Friday without our monthly All Media Show? This curated exhibit features all mediums and many topics by Virginia artists.
Please join us for the opening reception on January 26th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Meet the artists and enjoy live music. The exhibits will continue through February 17th, 2024, and the event is free and open to the public. Plus, parking is free too! Come and be a part of Richmond’s vibrant artistic
February
14
Artful Valentines
Bring your Valentine to the gallery for a valentine-theme scavenger hunt, complimentary sparking water and champagne and a valentine treat from 11 am – 5 pm.
23
4th Friday Exhibits and Reception
Art Works is excited to present two juried exhibits this February, Manic Ceramic and the February All Media Show, along with four featured artists, Wendy van Boxtel, Naila Lyles, Gwendolyn Narkinsky, and Mark Price. These exhibits explore themes such as depth perception, optical illusions, understanding ugly sentiments, empathy, apocalyptic and magical thinking.
The opening reception will take place on February 23rd from 6 p.m. 8 p.m. and will feature live music and a chance to meet the artists.
March
17
Open Figure Drawing Session
Join us for live figure drawing sessions the 1st and 3rd Sundays of March from 1 pm – 4 pm at Art Works. Hosted by RVA Thriving Artists.
Saint Patrick’s Day
Stop in for green punch and cookies, 11 am – 5 pm. Try your hand at an artful scavenger hunt. Get your clue sheet from the office. Look for the tokens on the walls. Match the clues to the artwork. Pick up your prize in the office.
17
Open Figure Drawing Session
Join us for live figure drawing sessions the 1st and 3rd Sundays of March from 1 pm – 4 pm at Art Works. Hosted by RVA Thriving Artists.
Saint Patrick’s Day
Stop in for green punch and cookies, 11 am – 5 pm. Try your hand at an artful scavenger hunt. Get your clue sheet from the office. Look for the tokens on the walls. Match the clues to the artwork. Pick up your prize in the office.
21
RVA Thriving Artists Monthly Meet-up
It’s a meet-up. Network with other artists, exchange ideas, have a beverage and chill.
Location: Benchtop Brewery, 434 Hull Street. 6 pm – 7 pm.
NCECA Exhibits Reception
The annual NCECA Conference has arrived in Richmond, and we are thrilled to invite you to come and see the incredible ceramic artwork on display March 19th – March 23rd.
On March 21st join us from 5:30 pm – 9:15 pm, for a special reception. Immerse yourself in the world of ceramic art and be amazed by the stunning exhibits throughout the city and at Art Works. Join us for refreshments, music, and the chance to meet the talented artists and fellow ceramic enthusiasts.
22
4th Friday Exhibits and Reception
Spring is here! Celebrate with us in Manchester on March 22nd with an evening of culture, art, music, refreshment, libations and mingle with talented artists and art enthusiasts. The opening reception is from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. You’ll experience the world of ceramics. And you will see the transformation of discarded items into artwork in the annual Recycled All Media Show. And if you want to challenge your depth perception and optical awareness, Wendy van Boxtel’s exhibit will take you on a magical art adventure. This event is free and open to the public and parking is free.
Summer Art Camps Registration
Register your 6–12-year-old in one or more of our six summer art camps. The camps are small classes, ranging from printmaking, wet felting, jewelry making, and more. Sponsored by Art Works and RVA Thriving Artists, these camps are taught by professional artists and experienced instructors. Click here to register.
April
4
Join us for Queer Life Drawing at Gold Lion in Manchester, RVA. Bring your art supplies and sketch. This month our model is Lieutenant Danny Knotts a local Fire Fighter!
Your donation pays the models and goes towards fundraising for the Color Theory: The Richmond Queer Art Experience , an exhibit at Art Works in August and September celebrating Pride Month in Richmond.
Meet other artists, have some beverages, and be creative in a fun place.
This event is sponsored RVA Thriving Artists is a 501c3 nonprofit devoted to bringing resources to local artists and connecting artists to the community.
18
RVA Thriving Artists Monthly Meet-up
It’s a meet-up. Network with other artists, exchange ideas, have a beverage and chill. Location: Benchtop Brewery, 434 Hull Street. 6 pm – 7 pm.
22
From Artist to Vender – Markets
It’s all about popups and markets! You have worked so incredibly hard at creating your pieces and now it is time to get those pieces out into the world. However, the world of markets and art shows can be OVERWHELMING! Which ones are the best for my type of art? How do I set up my booth/table in a way to optimize sales? What should I bring with me?
All these questions and more will be explored in our panel discussion with Richmond Makers Market! We have celebrated local maker Llorel along side Richmond Makers Market organizers Marie D’angelo and Amber Adaire.
The event is free. 6 pm – 8 pm at Art Works. Parking is easy with street parking and a convenient public garage on East 5th Street–Current Parking. Ask in the office at Art Works for a validation sticker for parking.
To register, click here.
26
4th Friday Exhibits and Reception
On April 26th the new exhibits open at Art Works including the Flora and Fauna All Media exhibit by local artists—Virginians love their gardens—tame and wild. And the students from the Henrico County Public Schools Center for Arts have installed their art in the main gallery with their annual senior-students’ art show. The RVA Photography Collective returns this year with another exhibit of Richmond—each photographer shoots identical locations and achieves different perspectives. And Paul Rosner gets us to dive deep into a molecular view of things with his exhibit, Xphemera.
Join us on April 26th 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. for 4th Friday in Manchester—the opening reception. Meet the artists and enjoy live music, refreshments and libations sponsored by RVA Thriving Artists. Parking is convenient and free.
Summer Art Camps Registration
Register your 6–12-year-old in one or more of our six summer art camps. The camps are small classes, ranging from printmaking, wet felting, jewelry making, and more. Sponsored by Art Works and RVA Thriving Artists, these camps are taught by professional artists and experienced instructors. Click here to register.
May
10
Maggie Walker Governor’s School Senior Art Exhibit
The annual Maggie Walker Governor’s School Senior Art Exhibit opens at Art Works on May 10th. Jeff Hall provides the inspiration and guidance for the visual art students at Maggie L. Walker where he supports a broad range of experiences in both two and three dimensions and a wide variety of media. The students present their work at a reception on May 10th, 6- 8 p.m. The show continues through May 18, 2024. The exhibit will be in the main gallery.
12
Mother’s Day
Stop by the gallery for a special treat for all mothers—anyone who has mother, loved and cherished any living thing. May 12th, 11 am – 5 pm.
16
RVA Thriving Artists Monthly Meet-up
It’s a meet-up. Network with other artists, exchange ideas, have a beverage and chill. Location: Benchtop Brewery, 434 Hull Street. 6 pm – 7 pm.
24
4th Friday Exhibits and Reception
On the evening of May 24, 2024, thanks to Katrina Walker and a host of visual and performing artists, Richmond art lovers will experience digital, interactive sculpture and a perfect storm of artwork, dance, and live music. What is digital interactive sculpture? The answer is: it depends. Like the theory of relativity, it depends on where you stand—what you see is different from the person next to you, or across the room from you. In this exhibit, you will get a chance to immerse yourself in the exhibit—become integrated into art.
Speaking of integration, Mike Bily through his explorations of greenhouse conservatories discovered that as living beings, plants can be interpreted as extensions of our environment or of ourselves. His exhibit, Planet Plant: Taming the Wild shares the deeply personal mystery of plants. Mariia Svdidan brings us All the Things that Matter. Mark Eanes’ exhibit, Endeavors opens. And of course, there is the monthly All Media Show—a focal point of 4th Fridays and showcases art by local artists.
Join us on May 24th from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. for the opening reception. Meet the artists and enjoy live music, refreshments and libations sponsored by RVA Thriving Artists. Parking is free. The event is free and open to the public. Parking is convenient and free.
Summer Art Camps Registration
Register your 6–12-year-old in one or more of our six summer art camps. The camps are small classes, ranging from printmaking, wet felting, jewelry making, and more. Sponsored by Art Works and RVA Thriving Artists, these camps are taught by professional artists and experienced instructors. Click here to register.
June
19
Juneteenth
Join us in a special presentation to learn about and celebrate Juneteenth. June 19th 11 am – 5 pm. 11 am – 5 pm.
20
RVA Thriving Artists Monthly Meet-up
It’s a meet-up. Network with other artists, exchange ideas, have a beverage and chill. Location: Benchtop Brewery, 434 Hull Street. 6 pm – 7 pm.
28
4th Friday Exhibits and Reception
Join us on June 28th from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. for the opening reception of new art shows. Meet the artists and enjoy live music, refreshments and libations sponsored by RVA Thriving Artists. This month we are presenting Plastic Fossils: Recent Works by Eric Manwiller. Imagine discovering our present in the future—what would it look like? Manwiller has an idea. Also, we are hosting James Torres’ Eye of the Beholder, A License to See: Photographs by Bollin Milner, Nature as Architect by Jenny Wilson, Thread, Twine & Rope by Richard Harding, and the June All Media Show by local artists.
The event is free and open to the public. Don’t forget, parking is also free. Come and join us for a night of art and celebration. Then have dinner at one of the restaurants in Manchester.
July
18
RVA Thriving Artists Monthly Meet-up
It’s a meet-up. Network with other artists, exchange ideas, have a beverage and chill. Location: Benchtop Brewery, 434 Hull Street. 6 pm – 7 pm.
20
National Lollipop Day
On July 20th, it’s National Lollipop Day. You’ll want to see an artful lollipop display and of course we will be giving away lollipops.
26
4th Friday Exhibits and Reception
Join us on July 26th from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. for the opening reception of new art shows. Meet the artists and enjoy live music, refreshments and libations sponsored by RVA Thriving Artists.
This month we are presenting two exhibits with themes of the future, one from an archeological view of our current plastic-planet by Eric Manwiller and the other an imagining of a post-dystopian life where organic life coexists within a technological ecosystem by G. Terado. And Welcome to the Menagerie of Horrible Darlings opening in the Centre Gallery. Prepare for some creepy haunts. Also featured is Ray Sutton who shares the unique voice of abstract expressionism. As always, we present the monthly All Media show by local artists—a special treat of many topics and art forms.
The event is free and open to the public. Don’t forget, parking is also free. Come and join us for a night of art and celebration. Then have dinner at one of the restaurants in Manchester.
31
National Watermelon Day
On July 31, it’s National Watermelon Day. Stop by the gallery for a slice of watermelon from a local farmer, enjoy the exhibits, scavenger hunt and chill with us. 11 am – 5 pm.
August
15
RVA Thriving Artists Monthly Meet-up
It’s a meet-up. Network with other artists, exchange ideas, have a beverage and chill. Location: Benchtop Brewery, 434 Hull Street. 6 pm – 7 pm.
23
4th Friday Exhibits and Reception
oin us on August 23rd from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. for the opening reception of new art shows. Meet the artists and enjoy live music, refreshments and libations sponsored by RVA Thriving Artists. As a precursor to Richmond’s Pridefest the exhibits opens with a special performance of talented artists celebrating the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community.It’s a beautiful, dreamy, mysterious, humorous, and a very pridefully queer sort of place this 4th Friday at Art Works. The four solo shows and the queer show, Color Theory opening this month offer all these elements. The event is free and open to the public. Don’t forget, parking is also free. Come and join us for a night of art and celebration. Then have dinner at one of the restaurants in Manchester.
September
19
RVA Thriving Artists Monthly Meet-up
It’s a meet-up. Network with other artists, exchange ideas, have a beverage and chill. Location: Benchtop Brewery, 434 Hull Street. 6 pm – 7 pm.
27
4th Friday Exhibits and Reception
Our 21st anniversary calls for cake and champagne—a great celebration of art in the community. Please join us on September 27th from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. for the opening reception of new art shows. Meet the artists and enjoy live music, refreshments and libations sponsored by RVA Thriving Artists. This month three artists present solo shows that delve into the subject matter of repetition—everything that ever was and still is (Joshua Leland Yurges), simple pleasures, snack food to charcuteries (Rebecca Visger), and enjoying the present—understanding that life is ever changing (Crystal James). RJ Barber brings us interactions with aliens in his exhibit, Alien Arrivals. And of course, the monthly All Media Show provides an array of different topics, styles and mediums by Virginia artists.
The event is free and open to the public. Don’t forget, parking is also free. Come and join us for a night of art and celebration. Then have dinner at one of the restaurants in Manchester.
October
1-31
ArtoberVA Scavenger Hunt and Social Media Challenge
Join us for an ArtoberVA scavenger hunt that takes you throughout our 25,000 square foot facilities, viewing fine art, looking for clues and culminating in a prize. And don’t miss out on participating in the social-media Artober posting challenge. Check our Instagram for details: artworksrva.
We are open Tuesday – Sunday 11 am – 5 pm.
17
RVA Thriving Artists Monthly Meet-up
It’s a meet-up. Network with other artists, exchange ideas, have a beverage and chill. Location: Benchtop Brewery, 434 Hull Street. 6 pm – 7 pm.
25
4th Friday Exhibits and Receptions
Winter is approaching. Soon days will be short and nights long. We are inviting our guests to go up in the attic and dust off their scariest Halloween get-up and join us for the 4th Friday reception and opening of new exhibits from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. It’s not all scary stuff, as we are also inviting children to an artful scavenger hunt. Wear a costume and you will be entered in a drawing for the door-prize. Exhibits include What Once Was, Still Is, Just Different by Joshua Leland Yurges, The Altar America Project, Textile Tales of Interiors by Sarah Wiley and Dark Art—an all-media juried show.
The event is free and open to the public. Don’t forget, parking is also free. Come and join us for a night of art and celebration. Then have dinner at one of the restaurants in Manchester.
November
5
Altar Festival Richmond
On November 3rd Art Works and RVA Thriving Artists collaborates with The Sustainable Cultural Lab and presents Altar 2024 Festival Richmond featuring music, food, and the Altar America Project exhibit.
The Altar America Project and festivals counter ethnocide by empowering people to remember, sustain, and celebrate their culture, while also providing a safe communal space for coping with the generational trauma and loss brought on by American ethnocide. We combat ethnocide through acts of cultural remembrance, activating ancestral knowledge, and creating new traditions that are relevant to our lived experiences.
12
RVA Thriving Artists Monthly Meet-up
It’s a meet-up. Network with other artists, exchange ideas, have a beverage and chill. Location: Benchtop Brewery, 434 Hull Street. 6 pm – 7 pm.
22
4th Friday Exhibits and Reception
On November 22, 2024, celebrate the holidays with us. It’s Black Friday and this year we have created a Holiday Shopping Experience. Not only will you find great gifts but the decorations in our Holiday Shop will inspire you. Have some cookies and cider and visit us on opening day and throughout December. There will be crafts for the children while you shop.
On November 22 at 6 pm, the 4th Friday new exhibits’ reception opens featuring solo exhibits by Glenda Creamer, Paula Wachsstock and a Fine-Crafts Exhibit by Virginia artists. Meet the artists and enjoy live music, refreshments and libations sponsored by RVA Thriving Artists. Parking is free. This event is free and open to the public.
Come and join us for a night of art and celebration. Then have dinner at one of the restaurants in Manchester.
December
1-29
Holiday Gift Shopping and Exhibits
Stop by the gallery and visit our special Holiday Shop. We’ve transformed the Centre Gallery into a Holiday experience. You’ll be awed by our decorations, music and munchies while you shop. And take time to make an ornament for our holiday tree, or take it home with you.
Happy Holidays. The Holiday shop continues through December 29th.
We are closed on Mondays, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years Eve and New Years Day. Otherwise we are open and having some holiday cheer.
