Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Address:	200 N Blvd, Richmond, VA 23220, USA
Phone:	+1 804-340-1400
Site:	vmfa.museum
Rating:	4.8
Working:	10AM–5PM 10AM–5PM 10AM–5PM 10AM–9PM 10AM–9PM 10AM–5PM 10AM–5PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 10

Thomas Nelson

A beautiful experience with a new wing expansion from 2010 that makes an ultramodern appearance and connects it with the old, historical wing. The atrium and main area is beautiful, the glass elevator was a nice touch, and I also liked the Best Cafe downstairs. The gift shop has some quirky stuff, not just the usual knick-knacks, but some really neat things that you can proudly put on your car or wall or even books on some of the art found at the museum. And since the expansion, I always find great exhibits on display. I remember seeing Picasso here earlier on, and then Chihuly came, and now if Im correct, Tom Wesselman and his pop art is there on display. Also, I really love the landscaping. It is beautifully serene, with the peaceful little gushing fountains and falling water next to the staircase on the elevated sculpture garden, which was neatly landscaped on top of a parking deck. Not to mention the full scale restaurant ont he third floor. The museum as a whole is wonderful and beyond words for me, and Im quite surprised for as long as Ive lived here, it has gone from something a little underwhelming to a star must-do attraction in the river city.

Jacob Stanton

I love museums. I have been to many museums on the East Coast from Tampa to Boston and I can honestly say this place is one of the absolute best that Ive been to. For starters, general admission is totally free, you only have to pay for any special exhibits that may currently be showing. From the second you walk in the doors the staff welcomes you with warm smiles and offers to help you find a good starting point for your exploration. There is a vast assortment of art and historical artifacts, everything from Sumerian times to Egyptian, Greek, and a very impressive Roman room dotted with large pillars and impressive sculptures. As you complete your circuit you can also find more modern sections dedicated to British sporting arts and American artistry as well. On your walk through history you will never find a speck of dust, a fingerprint on glass, or an unwelcoming face. You will leave with the strange sinking feeling that somehow you should have paid for this experience, because nothing this good in life has ever been free. But it is.

Lisa Emblidge

One of the best regional art museums I have ever visited. We joined the museum before we even moved to Richmond because we already were impressed with its permanent collection. Some of their special exhibits have also been stellar: Faberge, Chihuly and Kehinde Wiley were all very well done and the current Yves San Laurent show is good. The VMFAs Faberge pieces now have an expanded and remodeled space in the VMFA and it is an incredibly extensive collection, the largest outside of the Hermitage Museum in Russia! The Museum is free with a charge only for the special shows and it is open every day of the year. The only negative comment I have is that the Amuse Restaurant has very uneven quality of food- Richmond is a foodie town but Amuse is not always up to the Richmond standard.

Tiffany Williams

The VMFA never disappoints. It is beautiful both inside and out - just walking the grounds is enjoyable. The last timeI attended there was an extensive exhibition on Chinese art - it is up through December and is a must see. It included scrolls, jewelry, textiles, furniture, and other decorative arts. I thought it did a good job of putting Chinese rulers into context with frequent referrence back to European or American rulers of the same. That was a special exhibition and was $20/adult. The only thing I would change would be that the staff at the front desk be more forthcoming about the VMFAs annual memberships. They could have got us all on the membershio forj ust $15 more than we paid which would have incentivized us to come back more often - which we plan to do anyway!

Eli Bishop

A fantastic jewel of a museum. Ive been to hundreds of museums, and was blown away the first time I came here. I have been back many times since. There is usually always an amazing rotating show in the downstairs gallery. The main museum is massive and has an unbelievable amount of art, plus Egyptian, Greek, American Indian, African, and other world artifacts, including mummies. There is a great modern art section, and a stellar art deco / nouveau interior section. Make sure you plan to be here a while, Ive spent 3-4 hours here at a time and still felt like I had to rush through a few areas. If its family day or another busy day, this place will be packed to the gills, so if crowds arent your thing, plan to visit on a less busy day.

Chris P.

A beautifully constructed building housing multiple art galleries dedicated to different styles and periods. Thousands of paintings, artifacts, statues, and the like are tastefully displayed next to plaques explaining their meaning and significance. Rotating temporary exhibits are open to paying customers only, but are always worth checking out at least once. Otherwise, admission is free to the general exhibits which encompass 90% of the museum. The restaurant within the museum is nothing noteworthy, but does host musical events often. Less interesting info: Clean Restrooms, no Food/Drink allowed, Free water fountains, coat check offered.

A Private User

I had heard all the hype about the newly reopened museum and finally went to visit about a month or so after it opened. I was so impressed and so proud of the building and collections I was literally brought to tears! We are so lucky to have a museum of such calibre in little ol Richmond. The collection is diverse and contains numerous pieces of note - not just lesser known pieces. And the building is bright and cheerful. Theyve done an incredible job at making the museum feel less elitist (thanks mostly to the free admission). I cannot wait to see the unveiling of the last wing (to open 2011, I believe).

M Hill

The VMFA is a great institution to have in Richmond. Even if youre not very well versed in art the sheer volume and breadth it has is pretty impressive, and theyre rotating special exhibitions are always worth the entrance fee. Its also a great place for quiet study or reflection in either their cafe, outdoor seating, or even seating within the museum and exhibition space. I recommend becoming a member as it gains you free access to all the new exhibitions as well to multiple events thrown by the museum throughout the year, 10% off coffee and gift shop purchases, and free parking in the museums garage.

Christopher Timpson

Not really an "art guy" but this place was great! All the greats that Ive heard of (picasso, dali, van gogh. Warhol, etc) are all here. Not all stale art on the wall either... Native American and African rooms were a great change of pace... Classic/famous Furniture and Ancient exzibits were great too... a lot of greek/roman/egyptian artifacts... Huge place. Spent 3.5 hours there... Just on the inside... keeping a slow walk going (without stopping and appreciating like most)... gardens outside are beautiful as well. I live in DC, and this is the best art museum I have been to in the area!

Sallie Rhett

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts located in the City of Richmond claims national attention as one of the top museums in the country! It is a jewel, rich with history, education, music, and dining. What an excellent place to visit and enjoy with or without company. The gift shop is a treat unto itself with unique pottery, jewelry, art, games, and stationary. The draw of the Viriginia Museum of Fine Arts pulls from not just the City, but from Henrico, Hanover, Midlothian, and Chesterfield and far beyond. I ran into a visitor last month who came to Richmond to the museum from DC.