EXHIBITIONS¬

WE ARE WHAT WE CURATE

If you’re looking for inspiration from the artists of today, or just something fun to do in Virginia Beach, you’ve come to the right place. As a non-collecting art museum, our gallery spaces have ever-changing exhibitions. That means every few months, we introduce new, exceptional art for you to see, experience, and celebrate. Check out what is on view now, coming next, and what we’ve shown before.

Admission is free! Tickets can be reserved in advance at the link below.

RESERVE TICKETS

EXHIBITIONS

CURRENT EXHIBITIONS¬

Mahari Chabwera, Dadme La Muerte Que Me Falta, 2020. Oil, shells, acrylics, and fabric on stretched canvas. Courtesy of the artist.

Made in VA 2022

MAIN GALLERY

Virginia MOCA continues its celebration of regional artists through our annual juried exhibition, Made in VA. We find our roots in a concerned and connected artist community. We remain committed to keeping close ties with the talented artists who live close to our doors.

LEARN MORE

OCTOBER 8, 2022–FEBRUARY 5, 2023

Erin Fostel, Room #3, May 12th, 2022, YWCA South Hampton Roads Emergency Shelter, 2022. Charcoal and graphite on muslin. Courtesy of the artist

More Than Shelter

MAIN GALLERY

The essentials for human survival are food, water, and shelter. These needs take precedence over all the others. Virginia MOCA continues our investigations of basic human needs with the new exhibition More Than Shelter. Eleven artists received an invitation to participate in this exhibition. We asked each one to consider what the idea of shelter means to them and choose an avenue of investigation. The artists connected with partners who provided unique insight into their area of expertise. Shelter is both a verb and a noun. It can mean a home, a community, or the people and places that makes us feel safe and welcomed. It also means to listen, care, and to support one another, our community, our land, our minds, our society, and our futures.

LEARN MORE

OCTOBER 8, 2022–FEBRUARY 5, 2023

Art materials used by Made in VA 2022 artists. Photo by Lindsay Collette.

ARTlab Fall & Winter 2022

ARTlab is our interactive space for all ages located off of our main galleries. Explore the main themes and ideas found in our current exhibitions Made in VA 2022 and More Than Shelter through making, sharing, and personal connections.

OCTOBER 8, 2022–FEBRUARY 5, 2023

Brian Kreydatus, Self Portrait on 53rd Birthday, 2022. Oil on paper mounted on board. Courtesy of the artist.

Brian Kreydatus: Homebodies

COMMUNITY GALLERY

In Homebodies, artist Brian Kreydatus explores relationships and spaces in the time of a pandemic. These paintings and prints document and archive him, his home, and his family during this challenging time. From messy tables, to Zoom meetings, to naps, to mindless internet scrolling, this is how he lived. In fact, it is how many of us lived.

LEARN MORE

OCTOBER 8, 2022–FEBRUARY 5, 2023

Meagan Reily, This must be the place, 2019. Digital photography. Courtesy of the artist.

The Art of the ViBe 3

SATELLITE GALLERY

This exhibition celebrates eight visual artists who are a part of the dynamic visual culture found in the ViBe Creative District of Virginia Beach. Our roots are in the talent and generosity of Virginia Beach artists. The Museum continues to honor this tradition by supporting local artists and our creative community. Within the ViBe, there is a broad and growing spectrum of creative talent. Handmade goods, carefully crafted foods, and vibrant, engaging art are the hallmark of this region. Our talented artists and artisans enrich our lives while providing inspiration for each other. Each artist featured in this exhibition shared their time and talent within the ViBe. The Art of the ViBe 3 is a wonderful way to connect, collaborate, and celebrate creativity.

LEARN MORE

FEBRUARY 11–DECEMBER 4, 2022

Dale Chihuly, Mille Colori, 2003. Blown glass. Photo by Echard Wheeler.

Mille Colori by Dale Chihuly

RODRIGUEZ PAVILION

Translating to “1,000 Colors,” Mille Colori certainly lives up to its name. This breathtaking 14-foot glass sculpture by renowned artist, Dale Chihuly, is made up of 520 separate blown-glass pieces and hangs as a permanent fixture in our sunlit Rodriguez Pavilion, which was built specifically to showcase the modern masterwork. As our only permanent work of art on view, Mille Colori can be experienced year-round and has been seen by thousands of visitors throughout the years.

1940 Home Owners Loan Corporation “Redlining” Map of Greater Norfolk.

Living Apart: Geography of Segregation in the 21st Century

FLEMING GALLERY

Living Apart: Geography of Segregation in the 21st Century explores the ongoing impacts of our nation’s long history of housing discrimination.

LEARN MORE

NOVEMBER 18, 2022–FEBRUARY 5, 2023

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS¬

Ken Wright, Valley, 2022. Acrylic on canvas, Courtesy of the artist.

In the Abstract

SATELLITE GALLERY

Color, shape, line, form, and texture are the foundation for the language of visual art. Abstract artists use this language to investigate memory, emotion, and art itself. They move away from the expectations of creating a visual reality in their painting practice. There are few rules for this approach to painting; it exists in many different forms.

LEARN MORE