Welcome to James River Art League

​News & Events
Next Member Meeting

Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024
Members James River Outing-Art & Fun Fall Gathering 
get more information
We had a great time at our 60th Anniversary Celebration party at Lewis Ginter BG!
get more information & photos
Visit our 60th Anniversary Invitational Exhibit
at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
​Sept. 4 - Oct. 31, 2024
get more information
Visit our current exhibit
in the JRAL Gallery
at Crossroads Art Center
​Sept. 3 - Nov. 3, 2024
get more information
Visit our exhibit at Virginia Eye Institute
at Westhampton Station
Sept. 30 - Oct. 30
get more information
Visit our exhibit at Lakewood Retirement Community
Oct. 7 - Nov. 21
get more information

About Us

James River Art League (JRAL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of more than 145 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 inspiration, professional and social association, and continuing education through programs that feature exceptional and often nationally acclaimed artists and art professionals, and we provide opportunities for members to exhibit and share their art with our community in venues throughout the Richmond area.
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JRAL artists work in a wide range of art media, including oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, graphite, pen & ink, collage, silk screen, scratchboard, photography, sculpture, and more. Please visit our Art Gallery to see a sampling of members' paintings.

History of JRAL

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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 2024, we will be celebrating our 60th anniversary with events and activities throughout the year, including special exhibitions, celebration gatherings, member art events, and more. Click here to learn more about our year-long celebratory events!

Looking back, in 2014 we celebrated our 50th anniversary with a year long calendar of events.  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 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 on dates and location.

Become a Member

JRAL welcomes all interested artists aged 18 and older to apply for membership. We jury in members in November and March. Click here to find out more about how to apply for membership.

Contact Us

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