VA. Virginia Artist Archives

Abstract The extensive collection documents the life and work of Richmond-born photographer and educator Louis Draper (1935–2002). Manuscript and photographic materials document Draper’s experience and work as an African American photographer, including his recognition of his photography as a form of “engaged resistance” that not only bore witness to leaders of the civil rights movement, but also offered a richer and more diverse perspective of African American life than provided by the mainstream...

Abstract This collection documents the life and artwork of Rubin Peacock (1941-), a Richmond-based sculptor. For over fifty years, Rubin has dedicated his career to experimenting with bronze sculptures, taking inspiration from nature, ancient civilizations, and his Catawba Indian ancestry. His work has challenged popular art trends as many sculptors chose to utilize other materials in their work, making him one of few Virginia artists to use bronze.In addition to a diverse array of...

Abstract The collection documents the life, work, and research interests of Dr. Regenia Perry (1941-), an African American art historian. Dr. Perry is the first African American woman to hold doctorates in art history and American art, and has focused her career on researching and collecting African American folk art. In addition to her work as a professor, Dr. Perry served as a guest curator for The Metropolitan Museum’s “Selection of Nineteenth-Century Afro-American Art,” the first comprehensive...

Abstract

The collection documents the career of renowned lensless photographer Willie Anne Wright. Wright's paintings, serigraphs and drawings were her professional focus until 1972 when pinhole photography became her primary creative medium. Comprised mainly of the exhibition files Wright maintained, as well as information about gallery representation and art sales, the collection traces the evolution of her artistic journey over four decades.