artists

How Virginia Center of the Creative Arts Changed This Duo

Family ties bind us all, but sometimes, those threads weave a tapestry more beautiful than one could have imagined. Such is the case with Sharon Carter, a Richmond artist whose creative spirit is heavily influenced by previous generations. “They appreciated very much everything that is beautiful, and they passed that on to me,” Sharon reminisces […]

by Jennifer Prince

Poetic Sculpture

An interview with the artist who fuses words and art in this lyrical installation. Tom Hennessy Incanto: An Oasis of Lyrical Sculpture, a dynamic art installation at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, runs through October. Created by Falls Church-born artist Kate Raudenbush and New York-based poet Sha Michele, the installation is a […]

by Konstantin Rega

Woody Woodworth & The Piners

Celebrating the landscape of Virginia and Americana music. (Photo by Wayne Wilkerson) Richmond-born musician and songwriter Woody Woodworth grew up loving the musical landscape of the South. In 2016, he formed Woody Woodworth & The Piners, setting out to revive the musical traditions of Appalachia while adding in some rock ‘n’ roll […]

by Konstantin Rega

Virginia’s Portrait Artists

How Virginia’s finest artists—and their clients—are redefining a beloved Southern tradition. “Excited about college?” In 1980, Fielding Archer and his father were halfway to Hampden-Sydney, driving west on Route 60. The question should have been an easy layup. Archer hadn’t applied anywhere else. Instead, it plucked at a gnawing doubt. “Actually,” […]

by J. Michael Welton

Strange Plants

Five questions for this Virginia artist. (Photo by Ed Pollard) Heather Beardsley is an American visual artist that creates mixed-media projects at the intersection of art, science, and environmental issues. She works primarily with embroidery, cyanotype, and air-dry clay, mixing the aesthetics of scientific illustration with craft and children’s art materials. She received her MFA in fiber […]

by Staff

Violin Sonatas: Review

Virginia-born, Grammy-winning violinist Hilary Hahn surprises the listener with her new album. (Photo by Chris Lee) Classical music should be for everyone, but sometimes it gets a bit crazy…a bit weird. Lexington-born musician Hilary Hahn has the musicality, the experience, and the passion to create an album that is exceptional; after all, she’s recently been […]

by Konstantin Rega

Finding Her Roots

How Barbara Kingsolver stumbled on her Appalachian heritage. Mike Belleme/The New York Times/Redux Among her 17 bestselling books, Barbara Kingsolver’s ninth—The Poisonwood Bible—became both a Pulitzer Prize nominee and Oprah Book Club pick. So it was no surprise when her latest set bookstores buzzing. “It just flew off the shelves,” […]

by Konstantin Rega

Virginia Center for the Creative Arts

For 50 years, the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts has nurtured the world’s most promising artists. Sera Petras Enter the property known as Mt. San Angelo, just outside of Amherst, and a sign near the cattle guard reads “Cows and Cars Share the Road.” As you hairpin up the hill, your […]

by sarah sargent

Playing with Landscapes

We interview artist Suzanna Fields about her newest exhibit at the Quirk Gallery in Charlottesville. Stacey Evans “Constant Anomalies” runs until April 16 and shows an artist playing with organic and artificial landscapes. Taking inspiration from Rockfish Gap and the Blue Ridge in general, she makes beautifully strange art that is almost hallucinogenic. It’s […]

by Konstantin Rega

Blue Musings

Local artist Hannah Kirby’s new exhibit looks at motherhood, family ties, and the act of creating. Hanna Kirby’s Blue Musings is open at the Offsite Gallery in the MacArthur Center in Norfolk. Kirby is a VCU alum, with several large-scale murals in Virginia Beach and Norfolk, and she currently works as the Director of Operations […]

by Staff

Blake Gore Interview

This pen-and-ink artist deals with life in miniature. Though artist Blake Gore’s started out down the teaching career path, he took a chance when he saw a Twitter drawing challenge, and it opened up a whole new creative passion and profession. It started off with the daily drawing exercises of the challenge. […]

by Konstantin Rega

Nikki Giovanni Interview

A legend in literature talks inspiration, food, and Virginia. Legendary writer Nikki Giovanni has just been awarded one of the Foundation’s Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, one of the poetry industry’s most prestigious awards. Oprah Winfrey named Giovanni one of her “25 Living Legends.” Konstantin Rega: Where do you find […]

by Konstantin Rega

Home & Lifestyle Winners

Our 2023 Made in Virginia Awards for Home & Lifestyle. Nearly 10 years ago, in December 2012, Virginia Living presented the first annual Made in Virginia Awards, featuring 15 in-state makers “whose attention to detail and artistry remind us that craftsmanship and quality really do still matter.” And while a few things […]

by Staff

A Common Thread

The art of embroidery and quilting shows how artists learned and lived back in the day. Courtesy of the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg Most times, we don’t pay attention to bed coverings like quilts unless we’re shopping for a new one. Of course, the one your grandmother made as wedding gift or other […]

by Konstantin Rega

Stitched Magnolias and Hillary Fayle’s inspired artwork

Artist Hillary Fayle’s botanical embroidery evokes connection and wonder.

by Konstantin Rega

Best Albums 2022

Music moves us; see what got us going in 2022. Music can be so personal, but it also has the great ability to bring people together. See the albums from local artists and (inter)national ones—who toured in Virginia this year (or the next)—that have impressed us with how they create music and connect […]

by Staff

The Muse & the Mosaic

At New Ravenna, Eastern Shore locals tap their inner artist. Lemons glass mosaic At last count, the town of Exmore on the Eastern Shore had 1,348 residents. Among them, 120 spend their days creating exquisite mosaic tile murals for New Ravenna, a company that sprawls through five buildings in Exmore’s sleepy downtown. […]

by Constance Costas

Beginner’s Guide to Aimee Mann

From a Berklee dropout to a Grammy Award-winner, Aimee Mann makes music she loves. SHERYL_NIELDS Aimee Mann is that sort of Indie musician that could have gone under the radar, but she hasn’t. Even with her softer voice and subtle reverb sound, the singer-songwriter gives depth, emotion, and energy to her work. Born […]

by Konstantin Rega

Delicious Inspiration

An artist paints for restaurant relief. A lifelong watercolor artist, Bo Prillaman trained his eye on 30 restaurants for his new book, Richmond in Watercolor: Dining Out. “I was thinking of people like the waitress who’s worked at the same diner for 20 years,” says Prillaman, a retired architect, who was inspired […]

by Constance Costas

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Events

July 8, 2025

Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace

Carlyle House Historic Park

July 8, 2025

Waitress at Virginia Repertory Theatre

Virginia Repertory Theatre

July 9, 2025

June – July @ Art Works!

Art Works

New Innovative Virginia Tea Rooms to Try

Around the world, as both a beverage and a pastime, tea is steeped in history and ritual. From the casual to the ceremonial, tea is a throughline for many cultures, and now, it’s enjoying a renewed interest from beverage pros who are drawn to tea’s unique flavor characteristics, health benefits, and cultural connections. Recently, two […]

by Stephanie Ganz

The U.S. DOE Labeled These Virginia Schools Outstanding

Eight Virginia schools received the National Blue Ribbon 2024 award for their high performances. The Exemplary High Performing Schools are Spring Hill Elementary in McLean, Green Run Collegiate in Virginia Beach, Bethel Manor Elementary in Hampton, and St. Andrew the Apostle School in Clifton. The Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are Central Academy Middle […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

Virginia’s Top 10 Summer Festivals and Events 2025

STAUNTON – Festival of Concerts June 26–Aug. 2: The stunning strums and resounding chords of classical music echo through Staunton’s mountain landscape as Heifetz International Music Institute students from around the world take the stage, with new concerts every day. HeifetzInstitute.org GLOUCESTER – Food Truck Frenzy July 13: Virginia’s most mouthwatering food trucks descend on […]

by Hope Cartwright

artists

How Virginia Center of the Creative Arts Changed This Duo

Current Issue

Events

Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace

Waitress at Virginia Repertory Theatre

June – July @ Art Works!

Most Popular

New Innovative Virginia Tea Rooms to Try

The U.S. DOE Labeled These Virginia Schools Outstanding

Virginia’s Top 10 Summer Festivals and Events 2025

artists

How Virginia Center of the Creative Arts Changed This Duo

Current Issue

Events

Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace

Waitress at Virginia Repertory Theatre

June – July @ Art Works!

Get our most popularweekly newsletter: VL Today

Most Popular

New Innovative Virginia Tea Rooms to Try

The U.S. DOE Labeled These Virginia Schools Outstanding

Virginia’s Top 10 Summer Festivals and Events 2025

Get our most popularweekly newsletter: VL Today

Get our most popular
weekly newsletter: VL Today

Get our most popular
weekly newsletter: VL Today