Visual Artists of Richmond (VAR)
is a group of artists that brings together more than 135 visual artist members living in or working in Richmond, California. Our fiscal sponsor is Independent Arts and Media, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We welcome, fabricators, muralists, animators, illustrators, photographers, filmmakers, ceramicists, sculptors, printmakers, painters and designers.
In our group there is cultural and ethnic diversity, various age groups, high and low socioeconomic levels and emergent as well as established working artists.
VAR was started to promote artists making their art in Richmond and its unincorporated areas, to expand the opportunities available to visual artists in Richmond, and to support such artists through advocacy.
Tatiana Henke. Layers of Color. More on this artist.
A grassroots community of artists in Richmond, California.
Our overall goal is to create opportunities to celebrate and promote our work, share resources, and support each other's art practices via two projects:
Six artist gatherings per year let us network with other visual artists, learn of new opportunities and discuss topics of relevance to artist living or working in this community.
An independent online directory, free to artists who live or work in Richmond. This directory serves as a single source of artists in our area, allowing potential clients, collectors, colleagues and organizations to learn more about the art made within our city.
An annual Richmond Open Studios, enabling almost 50 participating Richmond artists to sell directly to the public and giving art lovers in West Contra Costa the chance to learn about the visual arts thought studio visits and conversations with artists.
January 2025v Artist Gathering at Seaport Studios
Artists: Get Promoted!
If you have a profile in our directory, we’ll be happy to promote your shows or art classes! And if you are an artist but not a VAR member, listings are just $10. Listings are free for our community partners! All you need to do is fill out our form and email us your images with captions:
A big Thank you to our 2026 Richmond Open Studios Sponsors!
We wouldn't have been able to hold Richmond Open Studios or its preview exhibition without the support of our sponsors: Kaiser Permanente, ArtsCCC, Seaport Studios and Metzli.
A huge thank you to our community partners Richmond Art Center, NIAD Art Center, and the Richmond Museum of History and Culture.
