The Art Institute of Virginia Beach, a branch of The Art Institute of Atlanta, Art Gallery will be hosting a closing reception celebrating its featured gallery artist, Richard C. Press, Sr., on Thursday, July 28, 2022. The art gallery show was personally organized by Mr. Press, a renowned Hampton, VA-based artist, in honor of Juneteenth. Now a federal holiday, Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, and Mr. Press’s oil and acrylic paintings commemorate this important part of history.
The Virginia Beach community is invited to attend the gallery closing for one last chance to see the artwork of Mr. Press. Plus, the renowned artist will be presenting live art that will be showcased on the day of the closing.
“A lifelong painter, muralist, and educator, Mr. Press visually and beautifully tells the stories significant not just to African American history, but the history of our country as a whole,” said Cheritta Crenshaw, Enrollment Counselor at The Art Institute of Virginia Beach.
Crenshaw added: “It has been a pleasure to share his contributions with our community throughout this gallery exhibition and we look forward to a highly regarded closing for Mr. Press.”
Where: The Art Institute of Virginia Beach Gallery | Two Columbus Center, 4500 Main St. Suite 200, Virginia Beach, VA 23462.
When: Thursday, July 28, 2022, from 4-7 PM.
Mr. Press’s murals have captured widespread attention, appealing to the masses visually and symbolically. In 2019, his painting “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow” was featured in a documentary produced by USA Today called “1619: Searching for Answers” – an in-depth look at the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in America in 1619. A master with acrylics and oils, Mr. Press has created an impressive portfolio that includes abstracts, impressionism, realism, portraits, and several commissions for murals and private pieces.
