Radford University Art Museum to Show Selected Art From the Virginia Museum of FIine Arts

Written by Carter Tompkinson Thursday, 22 December 2011 22:59

Radford, Virginia.- For the second consecutive year, the Radford University Art Museum is honored to be named host of a special traveling exhibition from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) in Richmond with “Goya, Dali, Warhol: Masterpieces of World Art from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts” coming to RU from January 19th through March 2nd 2012. The traveling exhibition continues the VMFA’s 75-year anniversary celebration showcasing dozens of timeless pieces from the museum’s permanent collection. Since 1936, the Richmond-based museum has shared its collections with citizens across the commonwealth. In honor of its 75th anniversary, VMFA organized two special exhibitions of about 50 works to travel across Virginia. Last January 2010, the university hosted the debut of the VMFA’s first touring exhibition: “Van Gogh, Lichtenstein, Whistler: Masterpieces of World Art from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.” Hosting both exhibitions further strengthens the relationship between the university and the commonwealth’s most prestigious art museum, said Professor Steve Arbury, director of the Radford University Art Museum. “This is indeed an honor for the RU Art Museum,” Arbury said. “As far as I know, we are the only institution that will have hosted both shows.

It demonstrates that our new facility is topnotch and can accommodate major exhibitions of art from renowned institutions.” In advance of the first VMFA exhibition, the Radford University Art Museum underwent a significant gallery renovation that included installation of new bamboo floors, climate controls, museum-standard lighting and an enhanced security system. The second exhibition is expected to include Salvador Dali’s “The God of the Bay of Roses,” Francisco Goya’s “The Sleep of Reason,” Andy Warhol’s three silkscreen “Marilyn” prints, John Constable’s “Branch Hill Pond, Hampstead Heath” and a bronze sculpture of a condor by Edouard-Marcel Sandoz. Robin Nicholson, VMFA’s deputy director for art and education, said the museum welcomes another opportunity to partner with Radford University and bring a taste of the museum’s world treasures to residents of Southwest Virginia. “We are delighted to be able to offer another major exhibition –“Goya, Dali, Warhol” – in 2012,” Nicholson said. The Vincent Van Gogh, Roy Lichtenstein and James Abbott McNeill Whistler traveling exhibition drew more visitors to the Radford University Art Museum during its first month than the venue had seen in the previous twelve months combined. “This clearly demonstrates the power of great art to appeal to audiences across Virginia,” Nicholson said. “We are aware that for many in Southwest Virginia, a trip to Richmond is difficult or impossible. Bringing our great art to communities such as Radford is a vital and essential part of our mission as Virginia’s Museum of Fine Art.”


Radford University is a comprehensive, mid-sized university located in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Southwest Virginia. Serving a student population of approximately 9,000, Radford features small class sizes and a strong service orientation on a beautiful 191-acre campus. Progress continues on a $212 million building and renovation program designed to transform its American classic campus with 21st century opportunities. A 2009 renovation of Young Hall has created one of the most technologically advanced academic buildings in the United States. In spring 2010, RU began construction of a $44 million signature building for the College of Business and Economics. The Radford University Art Museum houses over 1200 works of art, including more than 200 student works. Noteworthy collections among the Art Museum’s holdings are the largest collection of works by New York artist Dorothy Gillespie (70 works), 281 works on paper by Adolf Dehn, and the Kolla-Landwehr Foundation collection of 60 Huichol yarn paintings. Additionally, the museum owns some 250 works from the estate of Betty Parsons, a major art dealer in New York. Visit the museum's website at ... http://rumuseum.asp.radford.edu/rumuseumwebsite

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