Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Really wonderful museum easy to get to easy parking wonderful restaurant overlooking a beautiful part. Great time if you are in the area or even passing through Richmond for a quick visit. Quite a great variety of artwork.

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is truly the gem of Richmond, Virginia. It’s a spectacular piece of architecture that houses some great works. With free admission and it being open 365 days a year it’s hard to beat. I’ve stopped in on a hot day to cool off, I’ve gone in to listen to jazz on Wednesday nights, and I’ve also gone in to spend hours looking at the art. If anyone is coming to Richmond for the first time this museum is a must see.

We loved the collection and the facilities at VMFA. While there aren’t many famous pieces, the collection is well balanced across chronology & geography. Paintings, sculptures & photographs - an afternoon well spent. In addition, I’d recommend the Museum of Art in DC. Pro tips: 1. Parking onsite is efficient & easy - $6 2. Entry is free and water isn’t allowed 3. Cafeteria inside is decent, so no issues 4. I’d recommend 4hrs at this museum

It was a great experience visiting the fine arts museum as a first timer. There are so many arts to explore within the museum but even with the maps provided you can get easily lost or miss out sections although you thought you have covered the place wall to wall. I'm not a fine arts savvy but was able to experience the originals of some of the renounced masterpieces. After exploring the insides there's also a few things that are enjoyable outside around the museum so make sure you check them out as well. Forgot to mention the best part which most sections are FREE for the general admission and the FRIDA exhibition just started with additional entrance fee (or free for the members) but will be open to the public after 5th per the staff. Paid parking $6 all day is available very near the museum which also is well worth.

If you ever find yourself in Richmond, do not miss the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts — it’s a hidden gem that deserves all the attention. What’s even more impressive? Entry is completely free, yet the collection feels like something out of a world-class, ticketed museum. Prepare to lose yourself in an incredible journey through time and cultures — from ancient Egypt to Renaissance Italy, from French elegance to Indian mysticism. I was genuinely left speechless (mouth wide open!) when I stumbled upon the Fabergé jewelry collection — absolutely breathtaking. Give yourself a few hours — you’ll need it. And when your eyes are full of beauty and your feet need a break, stop by the museum’s lovely restaurant. It’s the perfect way to end your visit — indulging in the fine arts of both culture and cuisine.

Free entrance I recently visited the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA), and it was an unforgettable experience. The museum itself is beautifully designed, with spacious galleries and a welcoming atmosphere. From the moment I walked in, I was impressed by the stunning architecture and the wide array of artwork on display. The museum houses an incredible collection of art from various cultures and time periods, including European, American, African, and Asian art. I was particularly taken by the Impressionist and Modern Art collections, as well as the African and Ancient Art galleries, which offered a deep insight into the rich history and diverse artistic traditions. The exhibits are thoughtfully curated, and each piece is carefully labeled with informative descriptions that enhance the overall experience. I also appreciated the museum’s commitment to showcasing both classic masterpieces and contemporary works, which made the visit both educational and inspiring. Additionally, the VMFA offers a variety of programs and events, from workshops to lectures, which further enrich the experience. The gardens surrounding the museum are also a beautiful spot to relax and enjoy the scenery after exploring the galleries. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, and I felt very welcome throughout my visit. Overall, I highly recommend the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to anyone with an appreciation for art or history. It's a true gem and a must-visit in Richmond! I’m already looking forward to my next visit.

A really nice museum that is definitely worth visiting. The staff is cordial and friendly, the exhibits are great to behold, and the architecture is gorgeous. I was there about 4 hours and couldn't finish seeing the entire museum, so I'll try to go back as soon as I can. (My visit was in December, 2024).

An extraordinary museum showcasing a vast and diverse collection that spans every movement, style, and era. From classical to contemporary, VMFA offers a wonderful journey through art, highlighting the diverse richness and depth of creative expression across cultures and time periods. A must for anyone interested in art. Amazing tour guide. Also… it’s free! My pictures are mainly relating to flowers as I went for the Fine Arts & Flowers exhibition which is held biannually. A must if you love flowers! In addition, their restaurant, Amuse, is excellent.

We loved wandering through the galleries. The variety of art kept everyone engaged and I love the level of detail they shared about the artist or the movement. $6 parking onsite is a great deal.

Wow! I had a great visit here- I only wish I had come earlier because I just had an hour to browse the exhibits before closing time at 5pm. I'm so grateful that this place is free and open to the public though and I really enjoyed my experience. So much culture, art, and history at this place. There is something for everyone here. I highly recommend checking it out.

VMFA houses its own large collection of art as well as hosting outstanding temporary exhibits. It's also a great spot to meet a friend for a light lunch in the Best Cafe or enjoy a fine dining experience at Amuse. The gift shop is well stocked and a great place to purchase unique gifts.

I came in with my family of 7 on a weekday. There were many school children there on field trips. The facility was clean, well organized, and very large. Staff was very friendly and informative. There were so many great pieces to admire from many different periods throughout history. The fact that it is free made it even better. We would definitely recommend and will absolutely be returning in the future.

This is a fantastic museum that you can easily spend a whole day walking through and the best part is that it's free to enter (non members have to pay to access the rotating exhibits). There is so much to see, both inside and outside. I especially enjoyed the paintings, but there is much more to look at. It's definitely one of my favorite places to visit in the city.

It was simply an amazing experience.if you havent been to VMFA yet, you should plan your trip.

This was my first stop during my weekend visit to RVA, and the VMFA could not have been a better introduction to the city. By no means did I cover the entire museum - which is great, because now I have every reason to go back for future exploring. The museum has art from so many different genres (French Modernism, German Modernism, African Art... the list goes on) and artists... They have (several) works from Kehinde Wiley, Salvador Dalí, Henry Matisse, Esther Mahlangu and so so many more. I spent a good bit of my visit in the African Art permanent collection & the 'Dawoud Bey - Elegy' exhibition. I was really impressed and in awe with the variety of pieces that the museum has from all over Africa - there were unique pieces from Liberia, Ethiopia, Congo, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Cameroon and so many more. The museum has amazing works both inside and outside -- make sure you check out the stunning sculptures and pieces in the gardens.

I am ashamed to say I've lived in Richmond for decades and have never been to this museum. But, on a whim, I went and loved what I saw. 8 love seeing the exhibits, both paintings, and sculptures. There was a huge pergola type structure that was absolutely beautiful. I walked around and only got to see part of the museum, but I plan to go back soon to see the rest. Oh.. and on the way to the car I saw beautiful structures outside to sit by or take pictures 8n front of. One was a huge dimensional face, very interesting artwork.

I have a soft spot for the VMFA as it was a spot of many fond memories during my college years. I had not been there since the late 90's so when the chance to visit came up recently, I jumped at the chance. BOY, has it changed, and for the better. With its new parking garage, which is paid parking for non-members, you really dont have to worry about "finding a spot". The museum is located on Arthur Ashe BLVD which is mere blocks from Richmonds controversial Monument AVE. You are greeted by Kehinde Wiley's rumors of war which was based on the now removed Robert E Lee statue that was located on Monument Ave. The museum is spacious with a wide range of works. It is definitely not a museum you could do in an hour or even two. They do house both permanent as well as traveling paid exhibits. A wonderful collection that is sure to have something for everyone.

We loved it Was a 2.5 mile walk from hotel Free entry We paid fir the Samurai exhibit and it was only $15 Very reasonable Big place Open Nice employees Huge gift shop Canteen with food We liked it

Visited the museum for the first time, specifically to see the Dawoud Bey: Elegy exhibit. The immersive experience was challenging and thought provoking. While there, I took to the opportunity to enjoy the rest of the room and the cafe. I look forward to visiting again and absorbing all the museum has to offer. A note of caution, if you have gait or mobility issues, be mindful of crossing thresholds. Some of them are raised and not marked to indicate so.

Richmond's most beloved museum. The VMFA is one you don't want to miss. There is so much you can do here and most of it is for free! My absolute favorite thing to do at the VMFA is picnic in their sculpture garden. This is one of my top outdoor spaces in the city (I think a lot of locals feel this way). There is nothing better than relaxing with your friends in the sculpture garden on a sunny warm day admiring the art and weather. The art here is wonderful too! It's also free to visit. The only thing you have to pay for here is food, drink, and their special exhibit. You'll want to visit it at least once if you're living here. I was gifted a membership and would say you don't really need one to enjoy the place. The only benefits I find are early access to signing up for their art classes and free admission to their special paid exhibits. I highly recommend their art classes (which you can read more in another review of mine;). Although I haven't been to their Best Cafe, my friend who has been there a good amount of times says it's nothing to write home about, but their soup is good. I went to Amuse (their rooftop) for a birthday once and felt like it was a little overpriced and just fine. I'd be open to trying it again though. The VMFA is a Richmond staple that you don't want to miss. It's worth a visit because there is so much to do in this space.

Very clean comfortable space. Coffee was great and they also serve light meals. Seats outside are water front or under sheds. You can see art pieces inside the water while you are sipping coffee. Next door gift shop is worth to take a look too! They are working with and supporting local artists, I am sure you will find one of the art works you like.

Lovely day in this fine museum! Interesting collection with the fabulous Rumors of War statue a highlight.

Wow! I was in Richmond, VA on a business trip in mid-January 2023 and really enjoyed a brief stop here. First, the cafe is a lovely spot for coffee and a light lunch with a view of the outdoors. Second, parking in the garage is easy (only $6 for the day, or free if you're a member). Third, the main exhibit halls are free, but you'll have to pay for the special exhibit (which is $16 per adult, or free if you're a member). Although you might find more comprehensive art collections in New York or Washington DC, the VMFA feels intimate and accessible to someone who only wants to spend an hour or two here. I very much enjoyed the special exhibit on storied strings, which highlighted the importance of the guitar and banjo in European and American art. If you walk around the exterior of the museum and grounds, it's worth reading about the fascinating history of the Robinson House (the estate on which the museum rests). Part of the land was given to the Daughters of the Confederacy, which spread the "Lost Cause" narrative in elementary schools throughout the South. You can see a private white building near the Robinson House. I did not have time to visit most of the free exhibits, but look forward to stopping here again on my next trip to Richmond!

VMFA is so beautiful. One of the nicer museums I've been to in the country but the staff are so so weird.

Wow! What an excellent museum and it's FREE!! It really is an amazing museum with a very eclectic collection covering a wide variety of styles, periods and artistic genres. Parking is not free, but there is plenty of free street parking in the neighborhoods around it.

When I was in Richmond a few weeks ago, I decided to check out the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. It's a beautiful museum (great architecture, great light) with a beautiful sculpture garden. I'd love to have gotten a bite at their café that faces the sculpture garden - so pretty! Their collection didn't stand out in my mind (it has a little bit of everything), but they did have one interesting temporary exhibit I enjoyed (Isaac Julien: Lessons of the Hour - Frederick Douglass). The highlight of the museum for me was the Ludwig and Rosy Fischer Collection. Overall, I'd say it's an average art museum for a mid-size city in America. And the building is beautiful! Definitely worth a visit if you're visiting Richmond.

It's apparently been 10 years since I left a review on the museum so... It is easy to forget when something is in your back yard, but the Virginia Museum of fine arts is a world-class institution. I can afford to, so I pay membership dues annually to help support the place, but I spend a lot of time here in college as well and not a lot of money except now and then on the special exhibits which usually run about $10. There's a broad range of artwork, both fine arts and decorative arts of which I am particularly fond, in a broad range of eras, cultures, and geographic locations. Medieval reliquaries? Check. Man Ray photographs? Check. Extremely rare Roman statuary? Indigenous artwork? Faberge (Yes, I mentioned this last time too. It's a favorite)? So, so many magnificent thjngs. The special exhibits are as good or better. I have seen Schiaparelli jewelry, Mughal carriages, Hollywood costumes, Egyptian sarcophagi, Kehinde Wiley, and everything in between. I truly cannot overstate the value of the museum, its collection, and its people to the community. It even comes with not one but two Delightful restaurants, the Best cafe downstairs which is exceedingly accessible, and Amuse upstairs, which is delightful fine dining with a magnificent custom cocktail menu that changes with each exhibit.

A stellar museum in a medium size city, the VMFA hosts some of the best collections in the nation and offers a huge value to visitors. Deck parking, a lovely cafe and fine dining restaurant with an actual tea-house adjacent. Staff is friendly, helpful and able to assist. Museum offers many opportunites for concerts, plays, lectures, classes and special events. Jazz Cafe' is free, as are other community music events some held outside on the gorgeous campus of the VMFA. Go!

The art nouveau, arts and crafts, and art deco exhibits were really neat. A nice collection of American painting through the ages - particularly Wyeth. Got the obligatory photo of the kids with a Picasso (flashless, of course) . I could do without the "sporting" horsey exhibit (was that ever a let down for Kid #1 that thought it was going to be about modern sports) but did someone mention it's free?

This museum contains a great, diverse collection of art. Be sure to check out the events as well. Jazz night is particularly fun.

Visited the VMFA today for the Stories Strings exhibit and lunch at Amuse. We received a membership as a Christmas gift and we're excited to use it! Ordering tickets was very easy. The exhibit was very well done with so many beautiful guitars and stunning art work. Don't forget to stop in the gift shop for unique finds.

This is strictly a review for ordering items from the web site. I'd ordered two books and everything was very positive; shipping was very prompt & tracking information was provided immediately, the packaging was exceptionally good and the books are in perfect condition.

Always a delight! It is one of the largest and best art museums on the east coast and is free! Members save 10% in the cafe and get free exhibition tickets for the year. Teachers get free exhibition tickets with teacher ID.

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA as locals call it) has a scenic garden space as well as plenty of exhibits on the inside for viewing. You can visit the museum for free, but if you want to see the publicized exhibit, that's where a ticket is involved. My partner and I walked from Scott's Addition to the VMFA, and we were charmed by the outdoor area as well as the rest of the museum.

Free admission and so many exhibits to explore. This place has a lot of art from famous artists (e.g. Jackson Pollock, Pablo Picasso, Alexander Calder, Henry Matisse, and more). Parking on the street isn't too hard to find and there is a parking deck.

The museum itself was very beautiful. My friends and I loved the stories that each piece of art shared towards the audience. However, it felt as if the employees were watching us as if we were going to do something bad. My friends and I are from a Hispanic and Asian background and felt like we were being watched by a hawk. I thought I was the only one but my friends also felt like we were being watched more closely than the other white visitors there. Other than that, the museum should be a place to visit while in Richmond.

While it is subjective to declare any museum as the absolute best in the world, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) holds numerous attributes that contribute to its exceptional reputation and make it highly regarded among art enthusiasts. Here are several reasons why VMFA is often considered one of the best museums: 1. Vast and Diverse Collection: VMFA boasts an extensive collection of over 40,000 artworks spanning various periods, styles, and cultures. From ancient Egyptian artifacts to contemporary masterpieces, the museum offers a comprehensive representation of artistic expressions from around the world. The breadth and depth of its collection ensure there is something to captivate and inspire every visitor. 2. World-Class Exhibitions: VMFA consistently presents world-class exhibitions that showcase renowned artists and significant artistic movements. These exhibitions often feature loans from prestigious international institutions, ensuring visitors have the opportunity to view extraordinary artworks that might otherwise be inaccessible. The museum's curatorial expertise and commitment to providing enriching experiences contribute to its reputation for outstanding exhibitions. 3. Architectural Excellence: The museum's architectural design is a work of art in itself. The original 1936 building seamlessly blends classical and modern elements, creating an elegant and harmonious environment for displaying artworks. The subsequent expansion in 2010 added a stunning modern wing, designed by renowned architect Rick Mather, which complements the original structure while providing ample space for exhibitions and educational programs. 4. Educational Initiatives: VMFA is dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of art through its educational programs. It offers a wide range of activities, including lectures, workshops, guided tours, and hands-on art-making experiences for visitors of all ages. These initiatives provide valuable opportunities for learning, creativity, and cultural enrichment, making the museum a hub for artistic education and engagement. 5. Commitment to Accessibility: VMFA strives to make art accessible to everyone. It offers free general admission to its permanent collection, ensuring that art can be enjoyed by all visitors without financial barriers. The museum also provides special accommodations for individuals with disabilities and offers inclusive programs that cater to diverse audiences, ensuring an inclusive and welcoming experience for all. 6. Community Engagement: VMFA actively engages with the local community and seeks to be an integral part of its cultural fabric. The museum collaborates with local artists, organizations, and educational institutions, hosting community events, exhibitions, and performances. By fostering these connections, VMFA contributes to the cultural vitality and social well-being of the region it serves. 7. Conservation and Research: VMFA demonstrates a strong commitment to the preservation, conservation, and scholarly research of artworks. The museum employs a team of conservation experts who work diligently to maintain and restore its collection. Additionally, VMFA supports scholarly research and publishes catalogs and research papers that contribute to the broader field of art history and conservation. 8. Visitor Experience: VMFA places a strong emphasis on ensuring an exceptional visitor experience. The museum offers well-designed galleries, comfortable spaces, and amenities such as cafes and shops. The friendly and knowledgeable staff provide assistance and guidance, creating a welcoming and informative atmosphere for visitors. While the designation of "best museum in the world" is subjective and can vary depending on personal preferences and interests, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts undeniably possesses remarkable qualities that contribute to its status as a world-class institution. Its outstanding collection, curated exhibitions, architectural beauty, educational initiatives, accessibility, community engagement, commitment to conservation, and dedication to visitor experience all combine to make VMFA a truly exceptional museum.

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is a multi-story art museum with an outdoor sculpture garden. Admission is free unless you'd like to attend their current exhibit (e.g. Man Ray). If you love art, you could easily spend a whole day at VMFA. After a couple of hours at VMFA, my boyfriend got tired of looking at art so we didn't get to see everything. The main floor consisted of different styles of expressionism. The second floor consisted of artifacts and relics from different time periods from all around the world. Next time we visit Richmond, I'd love to see the pop art on the third floor.

Ambiance/10, music/10, food/drinks/-5! We went for jazz night on Wednesday and had a really good time. Except the food and drinks were not up to par at all! Basic pizza and wings would be fine, not expecting a meal but I believe VMFA can do better.

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is the art museum you didn't know you needed. Built in the 1930s, it's emerged as one of the best art museums in the country! Here's why you should visit: 1) Space: It's HUGE. The inside alone will keep you learning for hours. It's several levels and each exhibit is different. 2) Gardens: We went during the pandemic and decided to just do outside activities. The gardens are full of history, architecture and sculptures. There are nooks and benches to sit on and enjoy lunch or a good book. It's very peaceful. 3) Price: It's free making it accessible to all people. This is a must-do when visiting RVA!

Great museum with a nice cross section of artists, styles and mediums. Plus, it's not overwhelming in size so you can do it in 1-2 hours. We did the first 1/2 of the audio tour which covered the things we were interested in, and it helped us connect with several diffent museum pieces in a deeper way. Always free. Beutiful building and grounds. Worth a visit.

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is Richmond's anchor location for art and culture. I've visited the VMFA on and off since the 90's and have enjoyed their permanent galleries as well as their temporary exhibits, movies and social events. The bounty of treasures offered by the museum along with the cultural value offered and renewed on a weekly basis makes the VMFA one of RVA's most notable treasures and a must-see for any tourist. The organization strives to make access to their education and inspiration affordable and provides a scenic landscape to Fan residents or Richmond visitors.

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) is a fantastic place to visit for art lovers! We planned a road trip to Virginia because we both had a few days off from work last month in June 2022. We set aside one day to visit the VMFA. We also planned some other possible activities in case we finished early. Let me tell you, we were at the museum all day and we did not even see everything! The museum is huge. It is on several levels and several buildings. The collections are amazing. Plan to spend a whole day here if you love art. I haven't even gotten to the best part - the museum admission is free for the regular museum collections. Yes free. They do charge an admission fee to see special exhibits. We ran out of time while looking at the regular museum collections so we didn't get to see the special exhibits. You do pay to park in a parking garage on the property but that fee was reasonable. They have beautiful collections including an extensive Faberge collection and a collection of other decorative arts including beautiful Tiffany Glass and Lamps. They also have all types of artwork and paintings including modern. They have antiquities from Rome, Greece, and Egypt. Asian art and decorative arts too. There is a wonderful sculpture garden outside to explore. And they have a great restaurant right on site it is called Amuse Restaurant - when I say this I mean it is a real nice restaurant not just a snack bar. The museum and grounds were immaculately maintained when we visited. Everything was clean. Lots of parking in the garage (paid). Lots of clean bathrooms. Everyone we spoke to was very polite and friendly. I had an awesome day visiting the VMFA. I highly recommend. Plan to spend a whole day of you are an art lover like me. I am sharing a few of the photos that I snapped.

I cannot say enough good things about the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA)! I will list some of the wonderful things I love about it: 1. It is truly part of the Richmond community. Many people walk the museum. You will always find people having picnics, workout classes, dog walking, etc. throughout the outside gardens of the museum. 2. The museum is FREE! I would have never thought a museum this large and well done with amazing art pieces is open to everyone. 3. There is membership program. Membership is very reasonable (less than $100 for the year) and I am happy to pay the small amount to support the arts and for my family to have access to the special visiting exhibits (fee or part of membership). 4. They have a studio school. You can take art classes anywhere from drawing, painting, mixed media, photography, etc. The courses are a good value and discounted for members. They meet weekly for 3-4 hours for 8-12 weeks. I have taken a drawing class - loved it! Soon I will be starting a photography class. 5. There are always events. There is weekly programing throughout the museum as well as special events/talks for members. 6. It is open late Wednesday-Friday. They are open till 9pm. It awesome to be able to enjoy a museum after work during the workweek. 7. Personally, I walk to the museum for daily exercise and sometimes just pop in for a few minutes to see art and feel some heat/AC depending on the time of year. 8. Every time I visit I always find a new piece of art I haven't seen before. There is SOOO much to explore. You could spend an entire day here. This is a must visit for visitors and at least monthly visits for local Richmond residents. I try to visit weekly! I will continue to renew my VMFA membership yearly.

Lovely museum. They have a vast collection of just about everything. I spent several hours there but could/should have spent more. My only disappointment was their impressionist collection, that was a bummer. They have a couple large areas in a back corner for British and American "sporting" which is really just a bunch of paintings of horses, hunting dogs and hunting scenes. I saw not one person in those areas. Hopefully they will make a change to make better use of those spaces. However, they did have a beautiful and fascinating collection of other items I've never seen before such as Faberge, glass works, 18th Century British Silver, antique furniture, jewelry, as well as a large collection of paintings from literally every era and every geographical area since the dawn of humans. I highly recommend if you're in the area. Especially since it's free!

What an amazing place. My daughter and I really enjoyed our visit. I recommend visiting VMFA while your trip to Richmond. So glad we decided to stop by.

Absolutely beautiful museum, so much history. I did not enjoy being followed around the museum. Hard to enjoy, take your time and read about the pieces when you feel all eyes are on you and almost rushed through each exhibit. I would like to return to enjoy the other sections as I was there for the Guitars and set out on a mission to read about its history but I was so distracted with being followed it was difficult. Maybe my next visit will be different.

Top museum. We've been to many all over the world in major cities, and the one is highly competitive. Wonderful art. Prestigious artist around every corner. Art is beautifully displayed and thoughtfully curated. Highly recommend.

Had a lovely visit to the VMFA during the holiday season. I'm so tired of staying home so we made a reservation at Amuse for Sunday brunch and headed down early to check out the exhibits. We also checked out the special exhibit of items found underwater near Egypt. It was fascinating! We are so fortunate to have the VMFA in our city...it's a world-class art museum with lovely grounds and respectable restaurants. It makes a great day of art, food and people watching.

The Sunken Treasures exhibition is currently showing. I highly recommend a visit. The museum is free but the special exhibits have a separate charge. The last time I visited this museum was to see the Terra-cotta Army. This exhibit was not as grand but just as informative. Gallery attendants were personable and social. Social distancing was practiced. Hand sanitizer available everywhere and free disposable masks at the ticket counter. I do recommend visiting all exhibits and stopping by the cafe.

This was a great stop during our Richmond trip. We spent 2 hours here before, we would've stayed longer but they close at 5pm. There are 3 floors full of art to explore! They even had an outdoor area showcasing tall sculptures. There's a cafe, a restaurant and a gift shop. I would come back again, 2 hours was not enough to look through everything The cafe had some vegan dessert options. It's cafeteria style

This is a GEM of a Museum. Admission is also free so you literally have no reason to not go! The surrounding area is beautiful and there is plenty of free street parking available. This place is pretty huge and also has a cafe on the ground floor and a restaurant on the top floor. The exhibits were all fantastic. Definitely plan to spend at least three hours here!

My fiancé and I were in the area on vacation and stopped by before a scheduled escape room nearby. We really enjoyed this museum and wish we could have spent the day walking around. The grounds are beautiful which include a sculpture park with seating areas as well as some nice shady trees to sit under. The museum has garage parking at a reasonable price. Considering the museum is free (unless you'd like to see one of the limited time exhibits) we didn't mind paying to park in the garage. We spent most of our time in the Egyptian portion of the museum but also checked out Roman, Korean, Chinese and Japanese sections. There is a nice flow to everything and the museum feels very open and well spaced out. There are a few security people stationed who were very friendly and pointed out some special objects that were displayed. The museum seems to host workshops for children. They have wonderful cards near the children's or workshop area that help children (or adults!) think about art as they wander around. They are great conversation starters and help frame how to look more deeply into the meaning of artwork. We really loved this intimate museum and felt everything was well done. I highly recommend spending the day but with a few hours you can take a lot in!

Wow, this might be one of the largest and nicest art museums that I have ever been to. On top of that, it is free to go visit! With 4 massive floors of art ranging from the classics to the quirky modern art, this museum is worth every hour that you spend here. Not only is it spacious, it is very aesthetically pleasing as well. Lots of seating for you to really take time to observe, admire, and appreciate the great artists of the world. The museum also has a huge and fantastic collection of art and sculptures from areas and countries around the world. In short, do not miss out on this museum. It should be on everyone's list! :)

If you're looking for somewhere really neat to wander around on a given day in Richmond then VMFA should be high up on their list. The museum itself is spectacular (and mostly free depending on what you want to see!) and I also love their grounds outside because they make a perfect spot for a picnic.

I love this place so much! I've been here at least 8-10 times since moving to Richmond in May. I love that it's free AND it's open every day of the year. Amazing!! I've visited the Ansel Adams exhibit as well as the Man-Ray exhibit, and have been through most of the museum by now. It's a great place to take people who are visiting. And because it's free, I never feel like I have to see everything at one time. The outdoor area is also beautiful, and it was nice to go there when it was warmer and sit outside and have a drink with friends. I decided to become a member for free access to the special exhibits, and they offer a special rate for state employees. The membership also gives you early access to classes at the VMFA, and I've signed up to take a yoga class there starting in January. This is such a special place!

I cannot recommend the VMFA enough. The collections are vibrant, beautiful and diverse. Admission is FREE with the exception of any special exhibits (for non-members), which are worth the costs. On our latest visit we explored the Dirty South Exhibit which was phenomenal. The museum is well appointed and the staff is always professional and courteous. I highly recommend visiting the VFMA and supporting by becoming a member!