Lexington, Buena Vista & Rockbridge CountyLexington, Buena Vista & Rockbridge County
‹ Lexington, Buena Vista & Rockbridge County

Art Adventures

Galleries, Museums & Murals

🚶 Walking9 stops
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Four galleries line Washington Street in Lexington. Dubbed Gallery Row, it’s a great place to start a self-guided art walk. Three museums are open to the public at Washington & Lee. All have free admission, but their hours vary seasonally. The Stan Kamen Gallery, in the Lenfest Center lobby, is a permanent installation sharing depictions of the American West. A Norman Rockwell painting is located on the ground floor of Preston Library on the VMI post. This painting, unlike others by Rockwell, does not capture everyday life in America. Instead, it’s an oil portrait of Henry Fairfax Ayres, a VMI Class of 1906 non-graduate alum. Look for it just beyond the Information Services desk. The painting CSS Virginia and the USS Monitor by George Walker is currently displayed in the lobby of the Maury-Brooke Hall. Eye-catching murals are scattered across downtown Lexington and Buena Vista. For a full round-up of public art on display across Rockbridge County, check out the Public Art in Rockbridge County guide on this app. Several murals are scattered across downtown Buena Vista. Reaching Ever Upwards captures the city at twilight, with handprints of local children framing the scene. The mural faces the alley off W 21st St near Magnolia Ave. The Greetings from Buena Vista mural is a few steps away at the corner of 21st St and Magnolia Ave.

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    Nelson GalleryShopping · 27 W Washington St

    Nelson Gallery showcases eight local artists while neighbor Artists in Cahoots sells the works of a dozen local artists and craftspeople. A sunrise mural covers the wall beneath the Nelson Street Bridge near the Lexington Visitor Center.

  2. 🚶 about 1 min walk
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    Artists In CahootsShopping · 21 W Washington St

    Galleries line Washington St in downtown Lexington, and numerous artists create works in studios across Rockbridge County. Galleries and museums at W&L showcase an array of works. In warmer months, don’t miss the First Friday Art Walk, which is hosted by downtown galleries on the first Friday of the month from 5 to 7pm. Guest artists work with students and give talks that are open to the public.

  4. 🚶 about 1 min walk
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    Earth, Fire & Spirit PotteryShopping · 15 W Washington St

    Creative pottery lures you inside at Earth, Fire & Spirit Pottery, but eye-catching jewelry, wall art, and furniture complement the ceramics.

  6. 🚶 about 1 min walk
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    Cabell Gallery of Virginia ArtShopping · 5 W Washington St

    Bucolic landscapes and fancy cows adorn the walls at the Cabell Gallery, where fine art pieces include paintings, jewelry, and furniture.

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    Museums at Washington & Lee University: Reeves Museum of CeramicsMuseum · 204 W Washington St

    The Reeves Museum of Ceramics shares one of the largest and finest collections of ceramics in the United States, with hundreds of pieces from across the globe. The museum also spotlights the work of Louise Hereshoff Reeves, an early 20th-century American painter. Chinese and Japanese ceramics and engaging temporary exhibits are displayed in the Watson Galleries. The Watson House also holds an authentic Japanese Tea Room, with public tea demonstrations throughout the academic year. Closed in summer.

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    Museums at Washington & Lee University: Watson Galleries & Japanese Tea RoomMuseum · Lexington
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    University Chapel & GalleriesMuseum · 100 N Jefferson St

    Opened in 1868 during Robert E. Lee's tenure as president of the University, the University Chapel & Galleries share an exhibition about the history of the school. Edward Valentine's Recumbent Lee statue as well as Lee’s office are also on view.

  11. 🚶 about 7 min walk
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    Staniar GalleryMuseum · Washington and Lee University

    Inside the Lenfest Center for the Arts, the Staniar Gallery displays contemporary and historical works in all media by a global array of living artists. Rotating exhibits that are extensions of Staniar Gallery projects are displayed in Lykes Atrium in Wilson Hall.

  13. 🚶 about 8 min walk
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    Millinery De Rousselot MuralMuseum · 2 E Washington St

    The Millinery de Rousselot mural at the corner of Main and Washington Streets is a holdover from the movie Sommersby, filmed here in the summer of 1992. This Civil War-era love story starred Jodie Foster, Richard Gere, and Lexington’s very own Main Street.