Visit us on Facebook!

Welcome to James River Art League

​News & Events
Encore presentation of "Stories of the Greatest Generation" at
First Unitarian Universalist Church
July 30 - August 27, 2018
Visit our current exhibit at the JRAL Gallery at Crossroads Art Center
​ Click here for more information
Next Member Meeting Friday, September 21,
11:00 AM at St. Matthews Episcopal Church
Amy Shawley of Golden Paints is presenting
Get more information
JRAL Annual Judged Exhibit
at Reynolds Community College
Sept. 5 - Nov. 8, 2018
Get more Information

About JRAL

James River Art League (JRAL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of more than 120 juried member artists from throughout Central Virginia. Our goal is to encourage the creation and appreciation of the visual arts. We provide our member artists with motivation, association, and continuing education through programs that feature qualified artists and art professionals, and we provide opportunities for members to exhibit artwork in venues throughout the Richmond area.

JRAL artists work in a wide range of art media, including oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, graphite, collage, silk screen, scratchboard, and sculpture. Please visit our Art Gallery to see a sampling of members' paintings.

History of JRAL

James River Art League is one of the oldest art groups in Richmond and was organized in 1964 by members of a painting class taught by Helen Hull Bailey. Through her persuasion, an art league was formed south of the James River; early meetings were held in a small white house on the grounds of Westover Hills School.  The membership grew and soon the League included artists from both sides of the James River.  Today, JRAL remains anchored in Greater Richmond, although we have members from throughout Central Virginia.

In 2014, we celebrated our 50th anniversary with a year long celebration.  Visit our Anniversary News page for more information about our celebratory activities.  We also published a commemorative book, James River Art League: 50 Years of Art, that chronicles JRAL's history for our first fifty years; click here to read our book.

Meetings & Programs

We welcome guests to join us at our Program/Business meetings at St. Matthews Episcopal Church located in Henrico County in September, November, January, March, and May.  Field trips and special programs for members occur in October, December, February and April.  Please visit our Meetings/Programs page for full details.

Become a Member

We jury in members in November and March.  Click here for a membership application and more information about membership.

Contact Us

Click here to contact us for for more information about the James River Art League.