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 Artists Who Teach Exhibition displays the artwork by artists who also teach art in Coastal Virginia. The Virginia Artists Exhibition, a competition with over $7,000 in cash awards, features artwork in all media by some of the best artists and craftsmen from across 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.

Please Touch the Art: Works by Sally Barker

June 21 - August 23, 2025

A retired CPA, Sally Barker began her retirement filled with creativity. She began making art – stitching various shades and textures of fabrics together to recreate famous works of art and developing a system for the blind to experience color, perspective and composition. Sally developed a color wheel which included red, yellow, blue, green, orange and purple with three shades of each hue. She also decided on textures for colors to add in the goal of sewing artworks that the blind could touch. Feeling the texture of a color helps blind audiences identify a hue, and feeling the sizes of different objects in the works introduces the idea of perspective to these audiences as well. The main idea, though, is to help the blind understand art as a means of communication.

PLAYTIME: Toys and Art

April 12 – August 23, 2025

April 12 – Free Community Day

This exhibition of toys and art is a captivating showcase that blends the worlds of childhood wonder and artistic expression. Within the galleries, visitors are greeted with a colorful array of toys, ranging from classic playthings to contemporary designs, each carefully curated to evoke nostalgia and fascination.

This exhibition features a diverse selection of artwork inspired by toys, as well as pieces that incorporate toys as mediums or subject matter. Artists from various backgrounds and styles contribute their unique interpretations, creating a rich tapestry of creativity.

From whimsical paintings and sculptures to mixed-media installations, the artworks on display celebrate the joy, imagination, and cultural significance of toys. Some pieces may explore the symbolic meanings associated with childhood objects, while others reimagine familiar toys in unexpected contexts, challenging viewers to reconsider their perceptions.

Interactive elements are interspersed throughout the exhibition with hands-on activities, workshops, and play areas encourage exploration and experimentation, fostering a sense of playfulness and discovery.

Through this exhibition, visitors are invited to reconnect with the enchantment of their youth, while also appreciating the profound impact toys have on shaping our identities and experiences. It serves as a celebration of creativity, nostalgia, and the enduring magic of toys in both art and everyday life.

Featured Artists for PLAYTIME: Toys and Art Exhibition

Nate Avery

Joel Flippen

Karen Freidt

Cindy Guard

Cliff Guard

Kay Hofler

Sam Hundley

Corinne Lilyard-Mitchell

Ryan Lytle

Lisa Melita

Wade Mickley