The 1,200 square-foot Neil Britton Gallery opened in 2009 and is committed to engaging both the Coastal Virginia and University communities in the visual arts. Changing exhibitions and programs include the work of both professional artists and students.
Phone: 757.455.3257
Admission: Free and open to the public
Operating hours:
Monday-Thursday: 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Saturday: 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Sunday: 12:00-5:00 p.m.
For more information, contact Curator of Art Exhibitions John Rudel at 757.455.3257.
Fall 2025
Affinities and Differences: A Dialogue of Abstraction in Painting
August 28, 2025 - December 12, 2025
Artist's Reception: October 4th from 3:00pm to 5:00pm (Refreshments Provided, Free and Open to the Public)
The exhibition "Affinities and Differences" will highlight a selection of paintings and mixed media works by artists James Williams and John Rudel, professor of art at VWU. It invites viewers to explore how information and expressionism emerge through the distinct visual languages of these two contemporary abstract painters. Despite their friendship spanning over twenty years, this will be the first time their works are showcased together.
"Abstract painting is a curious endeavor, as it involves a process of visual discovery. In creating such paintings, artists are guided by intuition and aesthetic sensibilities, often unsure of the final outcome until it gradually emerges. We engage in a form of language creation where the elements of art serve as our grammar. This exhibition is particularly intriguing as it juxtaposes two unique languages of abstraction side by side, allowing visitors to appreciate each piece within a context that encourages comparisons between the two bodies of work, potentially leading to deeper insights." –John Rudel
James Williams is the Professor of Art and Chair of the Visual Arts Department at Tidewater Community College. John Rudel is a Professor of Art, Curator of Exhibitions, and Director of Undergraduate Research and Creativity at Virginia Wesleyan University. Their friendship began during their high school years in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in the 1990s.
Free and open to the public.
Spring 2025
Hampton Roads Student Gallery Honorees Show
Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center
February 25 to April 26, 2026
Hampton Roads Student Gallery is open to 11th and 12th grade student artists from all over Hampton Roads public, independent or homeschoolers. Our Honoree's show is comprised of 20 artworks (2D, 3D, and digital media) selected through a jurying process in mid-February.
Youth Art Month
Neil Britton Art Gallery, H.C. Hofheimer II Library
March 4 - March 29, 2026
Youth Art Month is a national celebration of student art with thousands of participating schools, cities and districts. Each year, Virginia MOCA partners with Virginia Beach Public Schools to display a few artworks from each school across the city, over 300 works in total. Artworks are selected, hung, and labeled by a committee of teachers.
Reception 1: Tuesday, March 10, from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (Remarks at 6:00 p.m)
Reception 2: Wednesday, March 11, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Remarks at 6:00 p.m)
Visual and Performing Arts Academy Juried Show
Neil Britton Art Gallery, H.C. Hofheimer II Library
April 8 - April 29, 2026
The Annual Visual and Performing Arts Academy at Salem High School Juried Art Show is an exhibition of student work, juried by local artists and art professionals. This show usually includes 40-50 works of art spanning 2D, 3D, and Digital Media.
Reception: TBD
VWU Senior Thesis Exhibition
Neil Britton Art Gallery, H.C. Hofheimer Library
April 20 - May 20, 2026
The Virginia Wesleyan University Senior Thesis Exhibition is an annual event where graduating art majors showcase their capstone projects at the Neil Britton Art Gallery on campus. Recent group thesis exhibitions, such as "Beyond the Frame" in Spring 2025 and "Goin' Through It" in Spring 2024, featured diverse works including video, digital art, ceramics, photography, and drawings.
VBCPS Teaching Artist Exhibition
H.C. Hofheimer II Library Gallery
February 25 to April 26, 2026
Each year through the Virginia Beach City Public Schools Teaching Artist Exhibition, Virginia MOCA celebrates the professionalization and visibility of teachers as artists, in addition to their role as educators. Each art teacher from across VBCPS is invited to submit a work of art for display, usually totaling 40-50 works in total. If an artwork is for sale, the price is listed on the label and visitors are provided directions for how to contact the artist.
Reception: Thursday, May 28, 2026 OR Friday, May 29, 2026