Events
Advertise your event here and on our socials! Fill out this form. This service is free to VAR partners and members.
Building Portrait Sculpture Elements in Clay Classes
As you think ahead to 2026, don’t forget to include some art making. With that you, will want to consider learning some portrait figure sculpture in clay. It is a great way to express that inner longing to create. Come join a beginning sculpting class starting in the new year. These are in-person beginning sculpture classes focused on facial features with some intermediate projects for returning students. You will create five or more projects including individual facial features. The instructor is sculptor and art educator Jim Bruce. It is $270 for 6 classes. You can register here.
Sense of Place
Don’t miss this group show of artwork inspired by the colors, plants, architecture and people of the Richmond and San Pablo area made by Visual Artists of Richmond member artists.
What We Hold: Protecting Sanctuary for Immigrant and Refugee Voices
Friday, Dec 12 6:00-9:00pm you can plan to attend What We Hold: Protecting Sanctuary for Immigrant and Refugee Voices, ARTogether’s annual fundraiser and community gathering dedicated to sustaining creative sanctuary for immigrant and refugee communities across the Bay Area. The evening includes a silent art auction, live music and poetry, an art-making activity with the artists-in-residence, catered offerings, a raffle, and connections with community members, artists and cultural leaders. ARTogether is dedicated to continuing support for immigrant and refugee communities despite deep cuts to arts and immigrant-service funding reduced their budget by nearly half in 2025. More info here.
63rd Annual Holiday Arts Festival
Celebrate the season at Richmond Art Center’s Annual Holiday Arts Festival! You can shop 60+ local vendors for handmade gifts, enjoy free art activities, ceramics sale, community pop-ups, and more. The festival is located at the Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA on Sunday, December 7 from 10am-4pm and admission is free! More info and the full list of vendors here.
"The 2025 Ho-Ho Holiday Show"
VAR artist Marvin Perry Mann joins Diane Williams, Chuck Potter, Judy Jacobs, Bruce Pareto, Merry Gregg and Jeffery Tover at the 2025 Ho-Ho Holiday Show at Estey Gallery in Benicia. Admission is free to the artist reception on Saturday Dec 6, 3-5PM. There are many reasons to spend an afternoon on First St in Benicia: galleries and shops, great food options, the Carquinez Straits and local abstract artists offering works priced under $500. More info here.
Sadiqeh Agah at Holiday Markets
This year Sadiqeh Agah is participating in two holiday art markets. Find her at Picnic Rotisserie's Holiday Makers Market on Sat, Dec 6 11AM-5PM and the Richmond Art Center's 63rd Annual Holiday Arts Festival on Sun, Dec 7 10AM-4PM. Pick up playing cards or a t-shirt for a holiday gift. She also has some newer affordable holiday themed items! She's tabling with fellow artists both days and there are many more artists to visit at these free events. More info here.
Regina Gilligan at EBOS
Regina Gilligan as part of East Bay Open Studios (EBOS), invites you to her studio at 1156 Peabody Lane Emeryville, CA 94608. Drawing, Painting and Sculpture will be on view. Don’t miss the chance to see Regina’s work in this large space, some of her series are being shown collectively for the first time! Admission is free to EBOS on Saturday, Dec 6 and Sunday, Dec 7, 11AM-5PM
More info here.
BIPOC Artist Gathering
BIPOC artists have been requesting a space in which to network and share their experiences, and thanks to Rich City we will be able to get together. Bring a friend!
Exhibition Opportunity at Artifact
Visual Artists of Richmond, are you looking to exhibit your art next year? ar.ti.fact Gallery in Pt Richmond is making itself available for interested and ambitious artists to rent the front room gallery space for solo and small group exhibitions. The owner will charge no commission. Click for more info.
Printmaking: Process and Possibility
Printmaking entails a wide diversity of techniques and a rich history. Many of the prints in this printmaking exhibition will be produced in the same way they were hundreds of years ago, while others will incorporate modern materials and technologies. Click to learn more about a show with and subject matter to suit every taste, just over the bridge in San Rafael!
El Cerrito Art Association 48th Annual Art Show
The El Cerrito Art Association’s 48th Annual Art Show is October 3rd - 5th at the El Cerrito Community Center, 7007 Moeser Lane, El Cerrito, CA 94530. The opening reception is October 3rd, 7 - 9 pm. The weekend show is October 4th-5th 11 am - 4 pm and includes unframed art bin sales. Both the opening reception and weekend show are free to attend. This a non-juried open show with a special category theme of “Luminosity”. Participating artists are eligible for cash prizes: 1st - $100, 2nd - $50, 3rd - $25 in categories with 12 or more entries + Special & Merchant Awards.
For more info and a list of winners, visit : http://www.elcerritoart.org
Richmond Open Studios
This is the 3rd year the Visual Artists of Richmond organizes the free, city-wide Richmond Open Studios with the intention of creating a diverse, safe, equitable and accessible space for Richmond artists to show and sell their work and thus contribute to our community’s transformation through the arts.
50|50 Show
Attending the opening fundraiser of the 50|50 Show is the only way to see ALL +2,650 works on the gallery walls! PLUS, you’ll be able to engage with many of the artists in the show over a leisurely 1 hr and 45 minute period, while you view the art and purchase these small treasures. (Total capacity during the opening ticketed events will not exceed 145 people throughout the three galleries including art lovers, artists, volunteers/staff.)
Art Near BART
Hines, owners of MacArthur Commons, and the Temescal Arts Community (TACo), an artist-led gathering, have come together in a landmark public/private partnership to activate a vacant commercial space through the power of art. Don’t miss the opening reception this Saturday, August 23 from 1:00pm to 4pm in the MacArthur Commons Courtyard, 540 40th Street, just East of the MacArthur BART Station. The public is encouraged to stop by and experience the transformation of this commercial space into a temporary public gallery.
10 x 10 Art Show
Please join us for the inaugural 10X10 Art on Sunday, July 13th at Seaport Studios - a vibrant community art space located in Richmond. This pop-up art show will feature a finely curated collection of 100 Bay Area artists - each who have contributed unique, small format pieces to this micro gallery. Join us for a colorful afternoon of art and community, excellent, locally made wines from our friends at Filial and vibey, vinyl tunes by DJ KingQube. Several VAR members will be participating in this exhibition! Your hosts will be Devyn Madsen and Cinthia Dennis. More info here.
Made In Richmond
You have until Sept 6, 4:00 to see ‘Made in Richmond’ the preview exhibition at the Main Gallery of the Richmond Art Center….
Art in the Park
ART in the PARK is looking for artists! The event is at Burg Park on Saturday, June 21st from 11-3 pm with artists’ booths, live music, art activities, food, and drink!
114th Annual Gold Medal Show/ California Art Club
This expansive showcase at the VEFA Gallery features nearly 170 paintings and sculptures is selected from hundreds of entries submitted by current qualified California Art Club members.
Northern California Arts, Inc. Members Show
Congratulations to Richmond artist Marvin Perry Mann, who received an Honorable Mention for his oil painting Rose Path at the Northern California Arts Members Show at the Sacramento Fine Arts Center. The show runs from May 27-June 14. Marvin has three juried exhibitions and a solo show this year, and will be working with C-lective Fine Arts, bringing original art to the home market.
Two Artists at ar.ti.fact Gallery
Stacy will talk about her amazing paper sculptures and Arthur will talk about his beautiful abstract watercolor paintings at the Point Richmond neighborhood on Saturday, May 17, from 2pm to 4pm. More info…
Water Exhibition at 2727 Gallery
The artists of Gallery 2727 will exhibit works that show these myriad qualities, prismatic and vivid as any lights upon water. The opening reception is on May 2nd, from 6-8pm.
Art of the African Diaspora Satellite Exhibition
Prepare to be moved, inspired, and engaged by the unique voices and visions on display. Don't miss this opportunity to witness the vibrant tapestry of art created by local talent.
Joie Debris
VAR member Kimberly Ross invites you to Joie Debris, a show exploring the beauty, creativity, and possibilities found in discarded materials. Join her at ACCI Gallery for the opening reception on Saturday, April 5, from 4 to 6 pm. Please come to the artist talk on Saturday, April 12, 4pm, and don’t miss the musical performance on Saturday, May 3rd (time TBA).
International Art and Found Day
The concept of Art and Found was created 7 years ago by Toronto artist Courtney Senior. Artists package and gift some of their works, leaving them in public places so that the public can find them and keep them. The program became so popular that International Art and Found Day was born.
Art of Love | Love of Art
Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of local art at Warehouse 416 Gallery! Meet and engage with talented artists from the Art of the African Diaspora at our opening reception on Friday, March 7th, from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Experience the artists during an interactive reception on Saturday, March 29 from 3PM to 6PM. Discover unique perspectives about art, love and celebrate creativity. Warehouse 416 is located at 416 26th St. in Oakland. More info here.
Play and Flow: A Community Arts Show
Join us for the opening event of our upcoming community art show, “Play & Flow!” Friday, March 7th from 6:30pm - 9:30pm, a collection of work by 25 Bay Area artists!
Paper Planes at Slate Contemporary
VAR member Brian Conery has a piece in this exciting group show of 23 artists, all works on paper. Please come to the opening on March 8 from 3-5.
The Richmond Art Center Is Hiring !
The Richmond Art Center is hiring! Go to their job opportunities page for the full description of these opportunities in the studio, afterschool. art tour and summer camp programs.
Emergence Exhibit
Emergence: Abstract Paintings by Susan Brady includes 25 pieces and runs 2/2/25-3/30/25 at First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley. Don’t miss it!
Consumed Exhibit
This show features artists who use materials otherwise destined for the landfill in their artwork. VAR member Erin McCluskey will show her plastic mosaics in a new installation at The Drawing Center.
Artist Gathering
Our Tuesday, January 14 Artist Gathering will be at Seaport Studios, 6:30-8:00 pm. This gathering will be our opportunity to learn more about this collective space and its thriving artist community. If you know you’ll be in town that day, don’t miss the chance to RSVP right now with the button below. RSVPs help us plan! You can always cancel later if you can’t make it. Their address is 4925 Seaport Ave, in Richmond.
Crocker Kingsley 2025
Laura Kamian McDermott’s epic tapestry took four years to weave during Covid. It has been selected for the Crocker Kingsley 2025 exhibition at Blue Line Arts in Roseville! Plan a pit stop to see the show if you are on your way to the Sierras or find yourself in the neighborhood!