Gallery Exhibitions
One of the leading tenets of the mission at The Charles H. Taylor Visual Arts Center is to offer our community an exciting and diverse schedule of visual art exhibitions. Since its inception, the Visual Arts Center has been focused on the creations of artists living and working in Coastal Virginia and the Commonwealth of Virginia. In doing so, we promote contemporary art makers and provide an opportunity for our visitors to interact with the art and artists of our own time. One artistic emphasis is on group exhibitions which offer a broad range of artists, media, styles, content and perspectives on our world.
The Visual Arts Center presents a series of exhibitions each season including a number of established exhibitions coupled with newly curated topical exhibitions. The Hampton Arts League Members Exhibition affords each of its members the opportunity to exhibit their artwork. The Virginia Artists Juried Exhibition, a competition with over $3,000 in cash awards, features artwork in all media by some of the best artists and craftsmen from across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Additional exhibitions may include invitational exhibitions focusing on diverse themes, media and content which are curated by The Charles H. Taylor Visual Arts Center.
Strength through Art
July 11 – August 29, 2026
July 18, 3:00pm-5:00 pm – Reception
Bringing together three distinct yet interconnected exhibitions, this series highlights the power of material, voice, and transformation across disciplines. The Expressions in Pastel: Mid-Atlantic Pastel Society reveals the depth and luminosity of pastel, where layered pigment captures both intimate detail and bold contemporary expression. The Reflections: Women and Glass illuminates’ innovation in kiln-formed, blown, and stained glass, showcasing artists who push the boundaries of light, transparency, and strength within a historically demanding medium. Completing the trio, the Strength in Word: Works by Derek Eley explores the intersection of language and image, where text becomes texture and message, inviting viewers to consider how meaning is constructed, seen, and felt. Together, these exhibitions create a dynamic dialogue about voice, material, and the transformative capacity of art.
Expressions in Pastel: Mid-Atlantic Pastel Society
Reflections: Women and Glass
Strength in Words: Works by Derek Eley
Hampton 250: Selected Works
Virginia Artists Juried Exhibition
Foundlings: Works by Sam Hundley
September 19 – November 14, 2026
September 26, 3:00pm-5:00pm – Awards / Reception
The Charles H. Taylor Visual Arts Center continues its celebration of Virginia artists through our much-anticipated annual juried exhibition. This exhibition celebrates the breadth and vitality of artists living and working across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Selected through a competitive review process, the featured works reflect exceptional technical skill, conceptual depth, and a dynamic range of media—from painting and sculpture to photography, mixed media, and contemporary craft. Rooted in diverse landscapes and communities, these artists explore themes of identity, history, environment, and innovation, offering perspectives that are at once deeply personal and regionally resonant. Artists from across the Commonwealth who work in all styles, genres and media are invited to submit artworks for consideration. The juried exhibition features cash prizes award to First ($1,000), Second ($750), and Third ($500) Places as well as Awards of Distinction and Honorable Mentions.
Dia de los Muertos
November 7, 11:00am-2:00pm
This celebration is a vibrant and meaningful gathering that honors loved ones who have passed while embracing the beauty of remembrance. Rooted in Mexican tradition, this free event includes the preparation of an altar (ofrenda) which is adorned with marigolds, candles, photographs, sugar skulls, and favorite foods of those being remembered. Music, traditional foods, and art activities create an atmosphere that is both joyful and reflective, affirming the belief that memory keeps spirits alive.
Craft stations include making paper marigolds, Day of the Dead masks, and creating God’s Eyes. Food trucks will be onsite.
Small Works
December 5, 2026 – January 16, 2027
December 5, 3:00pm-5:00pm – Awards / Reception
The Small Works Exhibition celebrates the power of art in intimate scale, inviting viewers to look closely and engage deeply. Though modest in size, each piece reflects thoughtful composition, refined technique, and concentrated expression across a variety of media—from painting and drawing to sculpture and mixed media. The exhibition encourages accessibility for collectors while challenging artists to distill big ideas into compact formats. Together, the works create a dynamic and richly layered viewing experience, proving that impact is not measured by dimension, but by vision and craft.
This juried exhibition is open to all Coastal Virginia and Virginia artists. Awards are given for First ($200), Second ($150) and Third ($100) Places along with Awards of Merit for Small Works and Miniatures.
Holiday Fine Arts Bazaar
December 12 & 13, 2026
Join us for the annual Hampton Holiday Fine Arts Bazaar. The opening of the Small Works Exhibition will be accompanied by this two-day fine arts bazaar featuring original, handmade works from artists around the region. Come meet the artists and shop for extra special holiday gifts!
Hampton Arts League 2027 Member Exhibition
Open Archive: The Hampton Arts Collection
Hampton City Schools Youth Art Month
February 6 – April 3, 2027
February 13, 3:00pm-5:00pm – Awards/Reception
The Hampton Arts League Member Exhibition showcases the vibrant creativity and diverse talents of our artistic community. Featuring works in a variety of media and styles, this annual exhibition celebrates the shared passion, dedication, and imagination of our member artists. From emerging voices to seasoned professionals, each piece reflects a personal vision and a commitment to artistic growth. Together, these works create a rich tapestry of perspectives—demonstrating the strength and spirit of a thriving arts community that values collaboration, expression, and the joy of creating.
Open Archive: The Hampton Arts Collection
February 6 – April 3, 2027
Open Archive: The Hampton Arts Collection brings together a dynamic selection of works that reflect the evolving cultural landscape of our community and beyond. Spanning media, generations, and perspectives, the exhibition highlights the breadth of the Hampton Arts Collection. Painting, photography, sculpture, and mixed media converge to reveal a collection that is continually shaped by artists, place, and time. Through themes of identity, environment, memory, and material exploration, this exhibition underscores the collection’s role as a steward of artistic legacy.
Youth Art Month
Hampton City Schools
March 2027
Works from the students of the Hampton City Schools will be on display in the gallery.
Aperture & Appetite
Feast for the Eyes: Food and Art
April 24 – August 14, 2027
April 24, 3:00-5:00pm – Reception
Feast for the Eyes: Food and Art explores the rich and varied ways artists have used food as a subject, symbol, and source of inspiration. Across cultures and centuries, food has served as a reflection of identity, community, and ritual—representing everything from abundance and celebration to desire and decay. Whether through still life, contemporary installations, or abstract interpretations, these works invite viewers to consider how food connects us—to our senses, our memories, and to one another—revealing that nourishment extends far beyond the table.
Through Many Lenses: Virginia Photographers brings together a dynamic range of photographic voices that reflect the breadth and complexity of life across the Commonwealth. From intimate portraits and quiet landscapes to documentary and experimental approaches, the exhibition highlights how photographers use the camera as both a tool of observation and a means of personal expression. Each artist offers a distinct perspective shaped by place, experience, and intent, revealing Virginia not as a single narrative but as a layered and evolving mosaic. Collectively, these works invite viewers to consider how photography captures not only what is seen, but how we choose to see it.
ARTini
Saturday, May 1, 2027 – 7:00pm to 9:00pm (6:00pm VIP Hour)
Hampton Arts Foundation fundraiser for 2027! This fundraising event invites mixologists from the Peninsula’s most prominent restaurants and bars to compete to see who can create the most artistic martini. This inspiring occasion will feature an amazing lineup of the area’s finest food and beverage establishments. Each restaurant will provide an appetizer for the guests to enjoy as well as their artfully delicious martini. Mixologists will vie for the Best Overall Martini Award (presented by a panel of professional judges), and each guest will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite ARTini with the People’s Choice Award. The awards will be presented at the end of the night.
2026 Virginia Artist Juried Exhibition
Call for Entries
Exhibition Dates: September 19th – November 14th
Submission Deadline: Sunday, August 2nd at 11:59pm
Online submissions for the Hampton Arts 2026 Virginia Artist Juried Exhibition at the Charles H. Taylor Visual Arts Center in Hampton, VA are now being accepted by all artists living or working in Virginia.