Richmond, CA — The Richmond Art Center will host Made in Richmond, a preview exhibition featuring the work of 80 local artists participating in this year’s Richmond Open Studios. Curated by Richmond artist Erin McCluskey Wheeler, the show runs from July 9 through September 6, 2025, with a free opening reception on Saturday, July 12, from 1–3 p.m. at the Main Gallery.

Made in Richmond offers visitors a curated sample of work from the artists who will be part of Richmond Open Studios, the city-wide art event organized by the Visual Artists of Richmond (VAR). The exhibition is free and open to the public during the Art Center’s regular hours, Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Erin McCluskey Wheeler, the exhibition’s curator, expressed enthusiasm about the show’s remarkable growth:

“This is our biggest show to date and it’s an incredibly exciting range of styles, subject matter, techniques, and materials. I loved seeing everyone’s work come in and putting this show together allowed me the opportunity to create interesting conversations between artworks. It’s great to have a show where artists who are new to art making are hanging side by side with artists who have been making and showing work for decades. We’re so proud to be showing artists who live or make their art in Richmond.”

The Made in Richmond exhibition is part of the lead-up to Richmond Open Studios, which will take place on September 6 and 7, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Across the city, 90 artists will open their studios to visitors, while others will exhibit their work at partner venues: Richmond Art Center, Richmond Museum of History and Culture, NIAD Art Center, and Point Richmond Gallery.

In its 3rd year, Richmond Open Studios is designed to create a diverse, welcoming, and accessible space for artists to share and sell their work—contributing to the city’s cultural transformation through the arts. An interactive map and printed guide will be available to help visitors plan their routes to individual studios and partner venues.

VAR Director Rebeca García-González emphasized the importance of collaboration in bringing the event to life:

“We are grateful to the Richmond Art Center, the NIAD Art Center, the Richmond Museum of History and Culture, and Point Richmond Gallery for supporting VAR’s vision of an independent, artist-organized open studios in Richmond.”

The event also enjoys the support of local businesses, with Clay People and Seaport Studios among the first sponsors to sign on.

Brian Conery, a founding member of VAR and one of the organizers since its inception, highlighted how accessible the event is for visitors:

“All four partner venues are filled to capacity with Richmond artists eager to show their work. If you don’t have time to visit a lot of individual studios, dropping by a couple of partner venues or some of Richmond’s collective studios is a great way to see a lot of art at one location.”

For more details about the Made in Richmond exhibition and Richmond Open Studios, please visit:
👉 https://www.visualartistsofrichmond.org/press

About Visual Artists of Richmond (VAR):
VAR is an independent, artist-led organization dedicated to supporting Richmond’s visual artists through collaborative events, exhibitions, and community engagement.

About VAR

The Visual Artists of Richmond is an all-volunteer group of over 120 artists living or working in Richmond, with a mission to develop “a well-known, diverse, inclusive community of artists supporting each other by organizing opportunities to celebrate and promote our work, share resources, and support each other's art practices.” VAR supports artists through three programs:

Artist Gatherings

Every two months, VAR organizes gatherings for Richmond visual artists and creatives. Their artist gatherings are not just a networking event, they are also a safe space where local visual artists can take their projects, dreams and questions. The artists have met at Richmond non-profits, private homes, bars, studios and galleries, with their largest gathering to date bringing together over 30 artists. Information about upcoming gatherings is shared on VAR’s website, its newsletter and on its social media accounts.

Online Promotion

VAR’s online directory promotes the work of visual artists living or working in Richmond to curators, gallerists, collectors, businesses and the public. Artists can fill out an online form to create a self-curated directory profile. Since VAR does not collect membership dues, a profile is what determines membership. The directory is free to artists, and runs independently of city agencies and organizations. Member shows and partner events are also promoted through free listings on VAR’s website and social media accounts.

Richmond Open Studios

Open Studios is a free community event where visual artists living or working in specific area or building can sell affordable art directly to the public. In 2024, 48 artists chose to participate. Through its own community connections, sponsorships and collaborations, VAR’s open studios have brought art lovers eager to support local artists to Richmond.

For The Press

MADE IN RICHMOND: Preview Exhibition at Richmond Art Center Showcases 80 Local Artists

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