Richmond Leader

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) has announced the recipients of its 2025–26 Visual Arts Fellowship awards, distributing nearly $160,000 to 24 artists and students. The fellowship program, established in 1940 through a donation by John Lee Pratt of Fredericksburg, Virginia, celebrates its 85th anniversary this year. Over the years, VMFA has awarded more than $6 million to support Virginians in the visual arts and art history.

Alex Nyerges, Director and CEO of VMFA, stated: “The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowship Program is proud to support professional and student artists working across the Commonwealth. Each year, through one of the largest fellowship programs of its kind in the United States, we recognize and provide transformative financial resources and exhibition opportunities to help advance the artistic careers of talented Virginians. This effort is a core part of the museum’s mission.”

Fellowship recipients must reside in Virginia and can use their awards for various purposes such as education or studio investments. The selection process involves museum curators and practicing artists serving as jurors. This year’s professional-level juror was Miranda Lash from the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver. Shawnya Harris from Georgia Museum of Art served as the graduate art history juror, while Sara Woodbury from Barry Art Museum judged the graduate and undergraduate visual arts categories.

Twelve professional artists received fellowships worth $8,000 each:

- Sam Blanchard (Blacksburg), sculpture

- Zach Duer (Christiansburg), new media

- Julie Grosche (North Chesterfield), film/video

- HH Hiaasen (Richmond), mixed media

- Min-Haeng Kang (Richmond), crafts

- Jeffrey Kenney (Linden), painting

- Adele Yiseol Kenworthy (Vienna), new media

- Pedro Ledesma III (Arlington), photography

- Andrew Norris (Richmond), painting

- Benjamin Rinehardt (Richmond), film/video

- Eric Standley (Blacksburg), mixed media

- Paul Thulin-Jimenez (Richmond), photography

Five graduate students were awarded $6,000 each:

- Erin Ehren (Richmond), sculpture at Virginia Commonwealth University

- Jolinna Li (Charlottesville), film/video at University of Virginia

- Alexis Torres Marroquín (Richmond), new media at Virginia Commonwealth University

- Nathaniel Newcomb (Richmond), crafts at Virginia Commonwealth University

- Lizzie Rivard (Charlottesville), art history at University of Virginia

Six undergraduate students received $4,000 each:

- Ashley Davis (New Kent), film/video at Virginia Commonwealth University

- Grace Heinzelmann (Vienna), new media at University of Virginia

- Theodore Mayberry (Norfolk), mixed media at Old Dominion University

- Kenneth Nguyen (Herndon), film/video at University of Virginia

- Sirena Pearl (Arlington), painting at Virginia Commonwealth University

- Connie Wang (Fairfax), painting at Virginia Commonwealth University

Kevin Hopkins from Richmond received this year’s Cy Twombly Graduate Fellowship award for his studies in painting at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Funding for these awards comes primarily from the Pratt Endowment and J. Warwick McClintic Jr. Fellowship Fund. In addition to financial support, VMFA showcases works by past winners in various venues including its Amuse Restaurant and galleries.

For further details on VMFA's programs and initiatives, visit their website or contact their representatives.