It may have been shuttered last year, but there’s more color and creativity to come to the walls of the Anderson Gallery.
The 45-year-old exhibition space, on Virginia Commonwealth University’s Monroe Park campus, was known for its tradition of providing a place for graduate students to show their first major works to the public. But Anderson also drew artists from beyond the university, notably Yoko Ono’s star-studded appearance during her “Fly” exhibition in 1996.
The gallery on West Franklin Street, now referred to as the Anderson Building, officially closed May 18. While the tradition of showcasing end-of-year graduate student exhibitions continues for now, this wasn’t the according to plan. As Style reported in a farewell to Anderson cover story, the exhibitions were planned to be held at VCU’s Institute for Contemporary Art at Broad and Belvidere.
But the $35 million center, previously scheduled to open in 2016, has hit construction and expense snags. It’s now scheduled to open in 2017. At 43,000 square feet, it’s expected to be a major anchor at the intersection and link VCU’s Monroe Park and medical campuses.
The plan is to present the graduate exhibitions at the Anderson and Depot galleries at 814 W. Broad St. A first round of exhibitions will begin with an opening reception April 8 at 5 p.m., with the show running through April 24. Round two runs April 29 to May 15, with an opening reception April 29 at 5 p.m.
A launch of undergraduate juried exhibitions will start with an opening reception March 24 at 5 p.m. at Anderson, with the show running through April 3.