While in Richmond for the installation and opening of my show at artspace I visited the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They currently are showing Picasso – Masterpieces from the collection of the Musee National Picasso, Paris which is a spectacular collection of his work that he chose to donate to the Paris museum as his legacy. It is on until May 15, 2011. This is the only USA east coast venue for the seven city worldwide tour.

The VMFA has been remodeled and reopened with a wonderful new building that workd well with the original classical structure.

I really enjoyed the permanent collection of the museum, from Paul Mellon’s outstanding collection of British Sporting Art and French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Art to the incredible Art Deco furniture collection to the thought provoking contemporary works including wet-plate photographs by Sally Mann and especially the colossal ceramic sculptures by Jun Kaneko outdoors in the sculpture garden.

If you find yourself traveling to Richmond, be sure to visit the VMFA – it is free and open every day of the year! You can’t beat that.