The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) in Richmond announced that several galleries will temporarily close starting September 16, 2025, as part of a major expansion and renovation project. The affected areas include the Paul and Rachel Mellon Collections of European Art and Sporting Art, as well as Marble Hall, which houses Sol LeWitt’s Wall Drawing #541.
Despite these closures, the museum will remain open every day of the year with free general admission. Director and CEO Alex Nyerges stated, “The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts will remain open 365 days a year, offering our usual robust schedule of programs, events, performances and exciting special exhibitions. In addition to regular art rotations and new acquisitions being added to galleries, many of our other permanent collection galleries — including American, ancient, East Asian, English silver, European, Fabergé, photography, South Asian and 21st-century art — will be open for visitors to experience while the museum undergoes the largest expansion and renovation project in its history.”
Artistic Director and Chief Curator Dr. Michael Taylor noted that some works from VMFA’s African art and Indigenous American art collections will return on September 27 in a special installation titled Community and Continuity: African Art and Indigenous American Art. “Several works from VMFA’s African art and Indigenous American art collections will return to view on September 27, 2025, in a special installation, Community and Continuity: African Art and Indigenous American Art, that supports Virginia Standards of Learning,” said Taylor. “We look forward to continuing to share works from those collections with our visitors, including students and teachers who rely on these invaluable educational resources.”
Currently on display is the exhibition Frida: Beyond the Myth through September 28. Later this fall brings Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys from November 22 through March 1.
VMFA is among the top ten comprehensive art museums in the United States by size at over 718,000 square feet. The planned McGlothlin Wing II will add about 173,000 square feet for new gallery spaces dedicated to American art and Indigenous American art, contemporary art, African art as well as a suite for special exhibitions. The new wing also includes an event space seating up to 500 people along with meeting rooms plus an additional café and bar.
Renovations are set for about 45,000 square feet across existing wings built in 1936, 1970 and 2010. This includes expanded areas for photography—about 5,500 square feet—and approximately 7,000 square feet for the Raysor Center for Works on Paper. Galleries featuring European art from Medieval times through Impressionism will also see expansions.
After completion of this project—scheduled for late 2028—VMFA expects to have one of the largest spaces devoted to African art nationally (second-largest), significant space for American art (fourth-largest), as well as one of the largest suites dedicated to photography (fourth-largest).
Construction preparation begins this fall with groundbreaking anticipated in spring 2026. Funding comes from both public funds and private donations; all dates are subject to change depending on construction progress.
For updates about gallery closures or project developments visit www.vmfa.museum.
The VMFA opened in Richmond in 1936 as both a state agency and privately endowed institution focused on collecting and exhibiting global artwork spanning more than six millennia. Its holdings exceed fifty thousand pieces including notable Fabergé objects—the largest such public collection outside Russia—as well as leading examples of Art Nouveau outside Paris. Other strengths include Chinese art; English silver; French Impressionist works; British sporting paintings; modern/contemporary pieces; South Asian; Himalayan; African arts.
In May 2010 VMFA completed its first major expansion with McGlothlin Wing I before planning McGlothlin Wing II—the largest expansion yet—which when finished will make it one of America’s four biggest comprehensive museums by total space.
Recently recognized by The Washington Post as one of America’s best museums (#11 overall), VMFA remains unique among U.S. institutions by offering free general admission every day throughout the year.
