Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is an art museum in Richmond, Virginia, that holds more than 33,000 objects from every continent and era. The collection ranges from ancient Egyptian statues to contemporary photography and includes African sculpture, Asian ceramics, and American furniture.

Judge John Barton Payne donated fifty paintings to the city in 1934, which formed the foundation for the museum. Since then the building has been expanded several times, most recently in 2010 with a large addition that nearly doubled the exhibition space.

The institution takes its name from the Commonwealth of Virginia, which established it as a public resource for all residents. Today families from across the region walk through the galleries together, while school groups gather in front of the paintings to discuss what they see.

The museum stands on North Arthur Ashe Boulevard and opens from Saturday to Wednesday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., with extended hours until 9 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. Admission is free, parking is available around the grounds, and many visitors come in the afternoon or early evening.

The collection holds five Imperial Easter Eggs by Fabergé, the largest number of these objects outside Russia. The eggs were originally crafted for the Russian royal family and made their way to Virginia through a series of sales.

Location: Richmond

Inception: March 27, 1934

Founders: Virginia General Assembly, John Barton Payne

Architects: Rick Mather

Official opening: March 27, 1934

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Fee: No

Operator: Commonwealth of Virginia

Part of: Boulevard

Address: 200 N. Arthur Ashe Boulevard

Opening Hours: Saturday-Wednesday 10:00-17:00; Thursday-Friday 10:00-21:00

Phone: +(804)3401400

Email: info@vmfa.museum

Website: https://vmfa.museum

GPS coordinates: 37.55639,-77.47472

Latest update: December 20, 2025 12:57