Bella Arte Gallery
Bella Arte Gallery (Photo by Beth Furgurson)
When Rena and Ed Klump opened Bella Arte Gallery in Midlothian, they were no strangers to the art world. The couple moved to the Richmond region in 2008 from Pittsburgh, where they had also run a gallery. Bella Arte displays new and original works by local and regional makers. Rena handles exhibitions, and Ed makes frames. Annual events include the Teapot Invitational, where multiple artists offer their creative interpretations of the serving vessel. 3734 Winterfield Road. 794-1511 or bellaarte.com.
Crossroads Art Center
Crossroads Art Center (Photo Courtesy Cregger Creative)
Housed in a 25,000-square-foot former retail space in the West End, Crossroads Art Center is a metaphor for the resiliency of artists and a veritable hive of creative activity. Shockoe Bottom Arts Center was closed in 2003 for conversion into apartments, provoking a three-pronged exodus: Some artisans went to Art Works (adjacent to Plant Zero), others ventured to Petersburg and another group set up shop as Crossroads. Today, the center comprises 225 artists and holds workshops, classes and special events. 2016 Staples Mill Road. 278-8950 or crossroadsartcenter.com.
Candela Books + Gallery
Celebrating its fifth anniversary, Candela exhibits photography from emerging, national and international artists. It was founded by Gordon Stettinius, a photographer, artist and educator. What began as a book publishing company to share the work of New York-based photographer Gita Lenz quickly evolved into an outlet for sharing the work of other photography artists. Exhibiting art from photographers including Alyssa Salomon, Julio Mitchel and Chris McCaw, the downtown Richmond gallery also holds an annual juried invitational exhibition known as “UnBound!” Purchases from that exhibition support fine art photographers. 214 W. Broad St. 225-5527 or candelabooks.com/gallery.
Gallery Flux
Gallery Flux in Ashland. (Photo by Jay Paul)
Entrepreneur and cultural booster Hugh Joyce opened Gallery Flux in Ashland, the self-proclaimed “Center of the Universe.” The gallery’s mission is to bring art into people’s lives, and much of the work is for sale. The gallery and its nearby annex present abstract and figurative painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry and mixed-media works. Gallery Flux holds group shows and exhibitions of small works. 307-B England St. 752-3540 or galleryflux.com.
Eric Schindler Gallery
Celebrating its 56th anniversary, the Eric Schindler Gallery is the oldest operating art gallery in Richmond. Founded by artists Ralph and Anne Gray, who first showed their work and that of friends at a studio on North First Street, it was originally dubbed The Gallery. In moving to its present location, the 1850s Binford-Pasternak House in Church Hill, The Gallery became the Eric Schindler Gallery, named for the Grays’ first son. Daughter Kirsten grew up in the family business and remains the gallery’s director. The residential setting helps some art seekers imagine a particular work in their own home. The venue exhibits figurative and narrative paintings, contemporary sculpture, prints and drawings, including the urban landscapes of Thomas Van Auken and the magical illustrations of Nicole Renee Randall. 2305 E. Broad St. 644-5005 or ericschindlergallery.com.
