May – June @ Art Works!

Throughout May, Art Works is open to the public, offering a variety of engaging exhibits. Our focus this month includes student exhibits, local artists’ showcases, and themes such as LGBTQ culture, Black culture, and a study on amulets and love. Join us for a fun-filled scavenger hunt with prizes, perfect for both the young and the young at heart. The activity culminates with prizes for all who participate. We also offer two figure drawing sessions on the 1st and 3rd Sundays. And the Queer Life Drawing sessions are back—Gold Lion Community Café on May 15th—pay what you can. Mark your calendars for two special events: the Maggie Walker Governor’s School Student Show on Friday, May 9th, and the 4th Friday Reception on May 23rd to celebrate the opening of our new art exhibits. Make a day of it by exploring the local eateries, including Continental, Stock, Pig and Brew, Iron Clad Pizza, Café Zata, and The Gold Lion Community Café. 4th Friday May 23rd at Art Works Join us on May 23rd from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for an exciting opening reception for our new exhibits at Art Works. Meet the talented artists, and enjoy live music, refreshments, and libations sponsored by RVA Thriving Artists. These new exhibits will challenge your perspectives on traditional artmaking, AI art creation and exploration, cinematic art influences, and abstract mark-making, Additionally, local artists will showcase their talents in the juried All Media Exhibit, which celebrates the vibrant and diverse LGBTQ community. This event is free and open to the public. Convenient and free parking is available. The exhibits will continue through June 19, 2025. CRIMEBABIES Join CRIMEBABIES for an immersive exploration of the spaces between truth and illusion. This exhibition invites the viewer to try and unravel the tangled web of cryptids, misinformation, and the eerie interconnectedness of all things, blurring the lines between the real and the imagined. Through digital media, AI, interactive installations, and speculative storytelling, the collective conjures a world where myth takes shape and perception is forever unsettled. Step inside and question what you think you know—because in this shifting landscape, certainty is the rarest anomaly of all. CRIMEBABIES formed in 2022 in Richmond, VA. The art collective consists of 8 members working in new media, exploring new technology’s role in other long-existing art forms. By folding the new into the old, and the old into the new, CRIMEBABIES sees art as a tool to expose the art world to its own insecurities about art’s evolution, as it comes face to face with the unruly power of machine learning. The exhibition will be in the Jane Sandelin Gallery at Art Works and will continue through July 21, 2025. ________________________________________ Reinvestigation by Glenda Creamer Glenda Creamer presents playful abstract paintings that investigate the interplay between marks and ground. Her work explores the emotional impact of color, contrast, and velocity, inviting viewers into a dynamic and vibrant visual experience. Through her abstract compositions, Creamer captures a sense of movement and energy, engaging the viewer’s imagination and emotions. The exhibit will be in the Corner Gallery at Art Works through June 21, 2025. ________________________________________ Scenes From a Movie by Kendahl Bell In Scenes From a Movie Kendahl Bell explores the blend of reality and imagination. Over the past three years, Kendahl has captured emotions in photographic form, such as love, nostalgia, beauty, and introspection. By using color, light, and movement, each piece evokes cinematic moments that reflect life’s narratives. This exhibition offers a glimpse into the quiet, film-like moments of our lives and Kendahl’s artistic journey. The exhibit will be in the Port I Gallery at Art Works through June 21, 2025. ________________________________________ Horizons by Dawn Vass Dawn Vass transforms the raw beauty of nature into vivid, textured narratives. Inspired by the interplay of color, light, and surface in the natural world, her work captures the essence of landscapes through bold palettes and intricate layers. As both a painter and textile artist, Dawn weaves together color and texture, creating pieces that echo the moods, moments, and rhythms of the earth. The exhibit will be in the Port II Gallery at Art Works through June 21, 2025. ________________________________________ Remember to Live by Chris Nelson Memento vivere (Remember to live). Chris Nelson’s art stands as a celebration of life in its entirety—not just its joys, but its challenges, tribulations, and impermanence. As more and more creative space is swallowed up in the unrelenting conquest of the digital revolution, Nelson remains firmly and stubbornly fixed working in the physical and manual. The exhibition will be in the Centre Gallery at Art Works through June 21, 2025. ________________________________________ Still Here, Still Queer: May 2025 All Media Show Local artists will showcase their talents in this All-Media Exhibit. The theme for the exhibit celebrates the vibrant and diverse LGBTQ community and coincides with Pride Month which takes place each June. Sarah Irvin will jury the exhibit and award cash prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. The show is open to all artists and all mediums. Call for entries is April 15 – May 11, 2025, and may be submitted through the online form. The exhibit will be in the Skylight Gallery at Art Works through June 19, 2025. Check our website for details on submitting artwork: Call for Entries ________________________________________ Form and Fire This group exhibition is presented in collaboration with the annual RVA Clay Tour. Art Works is delighted to showcase the exceptional talents of several renowned ceramic artists from Richmond: Maja Bality, Lee Hazelgrove, Cary Loving, Richard Mooney, Stephen Palmer, and Paul Terrell. The exhibit will be in Gallery 201 at Art Works through June 19, 2025.   ________________________________________   The Community Bridge Project with Julisa Carranza Torres Julisa Carranza Torres is a 22-year-old artist whose work explores her Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage through vibrant portraits and imaginative pieces. Her art blends cultural symbolism with animation and fantasy, connecting deeply with her roots and inspiring a broader audience. This exhibit is sponsored by RVA Thriving Artists, a nonprofit arm of Art Works offering opportunities for emerging artists including marginalized and under represented communities. Learn more at: RVA Thriving Artists website.