UMW Galleries Archives

Art Openings in the UMW Galleries

January 15, 2026 by Guest Author

Please join us next week on Tuesday, Jan. 20, for the Opening Receptions of two exhibitions: Carolyn Marks Johnson: Woman, the Spirit of the Universe; and Origins: Samantha Van Heest. Receptions will take place in both Ridderhof Martin Gallery and duPont Gallery from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. All are welcome – please stop by!

In Ridderhof Martin Gallery, Carolyn Marks Johnson: Woman, the Spirit of the Universe features twenty-three collars, hand-stitched and cast in bronze, created by Texas artist and judge Carolyn Marks Johnson. Each collar honors the lifelong achievements of brave women who contributed to equality for all. In addition to the exquisite collars, this traveling exhibition includes ephemera and paintings that invite further exploration and conversation about the achievements of women such as Margaret Brent, Dorothea Lange, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and Harriet Tubman, among others.

**Join us before the opening at 4 p.m. in Seacobeck 145 for Johnson’s artist talk in dialogue with gallery director Tracy Stonestreet. All are welcome to attend this special event.

In duPont Gallery, we are thrilled to host Origins, the first solo exhibition at UMW for Samantha Van Heest (UMW Class of 2020). Van Heest utilizes still life, found objects, and textiles to explore our relationships and rituals with the seemingly mundane, navigating patterns of collecting and preserving through unconventional means of presentation. Her hyperrealistic renderings of everyday domestic objects invite conversation around the politics of consumerism. Van Heest has been awarded several residencies and is currently an MFA candidate in Painting at Boston University. She will join us again on March 12 for a gallery talk. The Origins series highlights the work of UMW Art alumni.

These exhibitions will remain on view from January 20 to March 15. Admission is always free and no tickets are required. If you are interested in scheduling a tour for a specific group or class, please let a gallery team member know!

UMW Galleries reception: Thursday, Nov. 3, 5-7 p.m.

November 3, 2022 by Guest Author

All faculty and staff are invited to the next opening reception on Thursday, November 3 from 5-7 p.m.

UMW Galleries Presents THREE New Exhibitions

April 22, 2022 by Guest Author

Timmerman Daugherty, “In Shining Armor,” 2016. Ceramic mosaic, beaded fabric, sequins, found objects. UMW Permanent Collection.

The University of Mary Washington Galleries is pleased to present our last three shows of the Spring 2022 season!
The Annual Student Art Exhibition, currently featured in the duPont Gallery; the Intern Curated Exhibition: Women by Women, currently featured in the Ridderhof Martin Gallery; and the Senior Exhibition, currently featured on the first floor of the University Center.

Hours & Admission:
All three of these exhibitions are currently open. The Annual Student Art Exhibition and the Intern Curated Exhibition are open Tuesday through Friday, from 10am to 4pm, also Saturday and Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The last day to view these shows is Sunday. The Senior Exhibition is open every day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The last day to view this show is Thursday the 28th. Admission is always free.

Contact Us:
If you have any questions, please call (540) 654-1013, or email us at gallery@umw.edu. The attached images are from the Intern Curated Exhibition: Women by Women, which will be on display until September. If you would like to schedule a private tour outside of regular gallery hours, please email Rachel at rbailey@umw.edu.

Featured Artwork:
Timmerman Daugherty, “In Shining Armor,” 2016. Ceramic mosaic, beaded fabric, sequins, found objects. UMW Permanent Collection.

Annual Student Art Exhibition 2022 Award Winners:
Jenell Poling, “Egg” won an Award of Excellence.
Emma Bower, “Obstructive Obsessions” won an Award of Excellence.
Paula Zuleta, “Escape” won an Award of Excellence.
Shanna Aberle, “Coopered Door Stand” won an Award of Excellence.
Colleen Cragun, “The ZuZu Channel” won the Ann Elizabeth Collins ’73 Memorial Art Award.
Jasper Drilling, “Hiding” won the Emil Schnellock Award for Excellence in Painting.
Emily Warren, “Two Hearts” won the Melchers-Gray Purchase Award in Studio Art.
Sophia Maldonado won the Melchers Award for Excellence in Art History.
Maya Kirkpatrick won the Art History Award for Outstanding Research.

High-Profile Show Brings African-American Art to UMW

February 7, 2022 by Jill Laiacona

Ronald Jackson: “She Sang a Song No One Would Hear.” Oil on Canvas.

Sophomore Lauryn Taylor sees a bit of herself in a new exhibit at the University of Mary Washington Galleries.

“I haven’t seen many works of art featuring someone who looks like me,” Taylor said of a piece featuring a full-figured Black woman in Healing Through the Preservation of Our Histories and Our Selves, on view at Ridderhof Martin and duPont galleries through March 24. “It means so much that a painting like that is … being shown to everyone.”

Taylor, a studio art and marketing major, is among Mary Washington students who – along with faculty, staff and community members – had a hand in selecting pieces for the galleries’ new high-profile exhibit. The show features a collection of works by renowned contemporary African-American artists – Faith Ringgold, Jacob Lawrence, Theaster Gates, Kara Walker, Sonya Clark and nearly two dozen others – on loan from the Petrucci Family Foundation (PFF).

“We’re so fortunate to be able to offer our students a curatorial experience like this,” Department of Art and Art History Chair Jon McMillan said, “and to bring artwork of such a high caliber to the Fredericksburg community.” Read more.

UMW Galleries Upcoming Exhibitions

October 5, 2021 by Guest Author

Ridderhof Martin Gallery
Where Earth Meets Sky: Reflections on Nature from UMW’s Permanent Collection
October 28–December 5, 2021
Tuesday-Friday: 10-4, Saturday-Sunday: 1-4
Opening Reception: Thursday, October 28, 5-7 p.m.
www.umwgalleries.org

The University of Mary Washington Galleries is pleased to present Where Earth Meets Sky: Reflections on Nature from UMW’s Permanent Collection. This exhibition features landscape scenes in a variety of media, including works by Chase Chen, Brett Livingstone-Strong, and Herb Jackson. Created by UMW Interns Andrew Elliott, Carolyn Riley, Madeline Williams, Meredith Glasco, and Sophia Maldonado, this show aims to provide a space for the viewer to contemplate their relationship with nature. These seniors from the Department of Art History and Department of Historic Preservation hope to engage the UMW and larger Fredericksburg communities with these works, reminding viewers of the power of nature and the importance of creating experiences within it.

duPont Gallery
Dan Finnegan–Potter
October 28–December 5, 2021
Tuesday-Friday: 10-4, Saturday-Sunday: 1-4
Opening Reception: Thursday, October 28, 5-7 p.m.
www.umwgalleries.org

UMW Galleries is pleased to present Dan Finnegan–Potter, a solo exhibition by the celebrated local artist, in duPont Gallery from October 28 through December 5. This exciting show documents Dan’s 40 years as a potter in Fredericksburg Virginia, featuring pottery and sculpture from throughout this time period. While Finnegan has lived and worked in Fredericksburg since 1980, this is the first retrospective exhibition of his work at the University of Mary Washington. Several events will coincide with the show, including a reception on October 28th from 5-7 p.m., and a lecture by the artist on October 29th at 12 noon in the Hurley Convergence Center and via Zoom (check www.umwgalleries.org for the link).

UMW Galleries is free and open to the public. Check www.umwgalleries.org for updates regarding pandemic related policies and/or changes to our schedule. Please contact the galleries in advance if you plan to visit with a group. While our mission is to bring excellent artwork to the community, the safety and health of our patrons, staff and students is our top priority.

UMW Studio Art 2021 Senior Exhibition

April 9, 2021 by Guest Author

Greetings,

UMW Galleries is pleased to announce the opening of the 2021 UMW Studio Art Senior Exhibition!

The exhibition, located in duPont Gallery, features the work of 23 seniors. It will open Monday, April 26th, and will run through May 9th.

We encourage you to schedule your visit in advance as the Galleries are operating under limited capacity. To schedule your visit, click here.

Sincerely,
UMW Galleries

UMW Galleries Presents “Rows, Collections and Private Spaces: New Work by Chris Gregson”

February 12, 2021 by Guest Author

UMW Galleries presents “Rows, Collections and Private Spaces: New Work by Chris Gregson,” in the Ridderhof Martin Gallery on the UMW Fredericksburg campus. The show is open through March 21. Please visit www.umwgalleries.org for more information.

UMW Galleries Presents “Origin, Celebrating UMW Studio Art Alumna Tenee’ Hart”

February 5, 2021 by Guest Author

UMW Galleries presents “Origin, Celebrating UMW Studio Art Alumna Tenee’ Hart.” In the duPont Gallery from February 11 through March 21. Open Tuesday through Friday, 10 to 4, and Saturday and Sunday, 1 to 4. Limited capacity: schedule your visit in advance at www.umwgalleries.org. A scheduled talk with the artist has been postponed due to

About the artist: Tenee’ Hart is an ‘unconventional’ fiber sculpture artist pursuing themes of feminism that delve into topics of beauty, anatomy, and injustices of women. Material usage throughout her practice is critical due to their innate history and meanings. Hart hails from Virginia, where she was born and raised. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Mary Washington in 2011. Later, Hart pursued and currently holds a Masters of Fine Arts degree from Florida State University, where she has been teaching, at the college level, since 2014. She enjoys dinosaurs, radical feminism, glitter, stickers, fur babies, and everything that is the 80’s!

UMW Galleries Highlight Alumni and Faculty Artists Past and Present

January 28, 2020 by jlaiacon

Origins

A retrospective of artwork from Mary Washington alumni and faculty past and present will be featured in one of two exhibitions hosted by the UMW Galleries, beginning on Thursday, Feb. 6. The other will honor the legacy of a former professor who was instrumental in cultivating the University’s art collection.

The exhibits, Origins: UMW Ceramics Faculty and Alumni in the duPont Gallery, and Julien Binford: A Legacy of Inspiration & Enterprise in the Ridderhof Martin Gallery, will open with receptions from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Origins, which will be on display through March 29, showcases the diverse artwork of faculty and alumni from the University of Mary Washington’s ceramics program over the past 50 years. It is also a concurrent exhibition for this year’s National Conference on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA), to be held in Richmond Virginia in late March.

Julien Binford

By bringing together a variety of expressions, techniques and processes, the exhibition highlights the success of our former students and the strength of our department while illustrating the range and depth of contemporary ceramic art. From sculptural objects and installations to functional pottery, Origins celebrates our community, and reiterates Mary Washington’s identity as an institution grounded in the liberal arts.

Julien Binford, on display through March 15, honors the legacy of former Mary Washington Professor of Art, Julien Binford. The show presents preparatory drawings that Binford created during the 1940s and early 1950s for important commissions he received from LIFE Magazine and The Greenwich Savings Bank. These works were graciously loaned by Maureen Paige (UMW, Class of 1970), a former student of Julien Binford. Also on display are artworks acquired by Binford during his tenure at Mary Washington.

UMW Galleries Announces Fall Exhibitions

September 11, 2019 by jlaiacon

The University of Mary Washington Galleries are pleased to present two exhibitions: Thanks in Advance: Jason Robinson and Embodiment: Figurative Works from UMW’s Permanent Collection in the duPont and Ridderhof Martin Galleries, respectively. Thanks in Advance will run from Sept. 19 through Dec. 8, 2019. Embodiment will run from Sept. 2 through Oct. 6, 2019. The opening receptions will be on Thursday, September 19^th from 5-7pm in the Galleries. There will additionally be a live performance during the DuPont reception. The UMW Galleries and all associated events are free and open to the public. The Galleries’ hours are Tuesday through Friday 10am to 4pm and Saturday and Sunday 1pm to 4pm.

About the Exhibitions:

Jason Robinson’s Buenas Noches From a Lonely Room, video, 2019.

Thanks in Advance: Jason Robinson

Jason Robinson makes films, videos, sounds, prints, performances and gifs about family, friends, and the materiality of analog video signals. His work has screened at festivals and galleries both nationally and internationally including The Virginia Film Festival (Charlottesville, VA), Ethnografilm (Paris, France), The Asheville Art Museum (NC), and the Transmission Art Festival (Athens, Greece). He is an assistant professor of Digital Art at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA.

Detail of Untitled by Phyllis Ridderhof Martin.

Embodiment: Figurative Works from UMW’s Permanent Collection

This exhibition is curated by our former Collections Manager, Charles “Alex” Trivette, who selected some of his favorite works from our permanent collection. The exhibition includes the works of eight artists: Phyllis Ridderhof Martin, Dorothy Van Winckel, Alfred Levitt, Margaret Sutton, Tetsuo Ochikubo, Nicholas Vasilieff, Hans Burkhardt, and Arshille Gorky.