Va moca

Since 1994, the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art has celebrated the extraordinary talent of Virginia artists through its annual juried exhibition. Nearly 30 years later, this favorite tradition continues to thrive and evolve together with the immense creative talent found across the commonwealth. Now, Made in VA has transitioned to a biennial event featuring artwork created by Virginia artists in the preceding two years.

Every other year, we’re dedicating an expanded gallery space to the juried exhibition, enabling the Museum to showcase a wider range of artistic voices and visions. This expansion also means more prizes and professional opportunities for participating artists. Now as in 1994, Made in VA reflects the Museum’s commitment to enriching and supporting the artistic communities in our region. This momentous occasion marks a new chapter in the Museum’s long history of fostering creativity and innovation.

The inaugural Made in VA Biennial juried exhibition celebrates the extraordinary talent of Virginia artists. Featuring over 87 works from 61 artists, this exhibition will present a robust selection of exceptional contemporary art being made throughout the state.

"At Virginia MOCA, we're deeply rooted in our community," said Alison Byrne, interim

director, director of exhibitions at the Museum. “Our upcoming exhibition featuring

Virginia talent is a perfect example—exceptional contemporary art that resonates on

every level.

This year, the artists were selected by three jurors representing regional and national perspectives: Maya Brooks assistant curator of Contemporary Art at the North Carolina Museum of Art and Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art; Lauren Levin, a curator and writer based in Chicago and Cleveland; and Virginia MOCA Senior Curator Heather Hakimzadeh. Artists were chosen from an applicant pool of 699, a record for this exhibition