Past Exhibits

From These Hills

From These Hills: Contemporary Art in the Southern Appalachian Highlands is one of William King Museum of Art’s longest standing traditions. First held in 1993, this biennial is unique in its geographical scope and the number of important artists it has exhibited who live and work in Southern Appalachia. This year marks ...

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In Conversation: Inspired Furniture Then and Now

In Conversation: Inspired Furniture Then and Now explores the legacy of furniture making in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. This exhibition features work by contemporary furniture makers in tandem with historical pieces from the region. Placing these pieces together opens the door for conversations about traditional process and stylistic form present in ...

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Now Playing: New Forms in Contemporary Glass

The “drama of discovery” came to define the early days of the Studio Glass movement as artists transitioned the material of glass from functional object to sculptural. Now Playing: New Forms in Contemporary Glass examines where the dramatic element of glassmaking is leading artists working today. ...

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Mannish

Artist Travis Donovan works to uncover the hidden nuances present in everyday objects by presenting them as metaphors for self and place. Heavily influenced by Appalachian culture, Donovan collects, embellishes, and tinkers with mundane items in order to bring their meaning into question. He is particularly interested in exploring stereotypes of economic class and masculinity through ...

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Intertwined: Regional Textile Traditions

This exhibition, organized by The William King Museum of Art, explores the realities of nineteenth-century home textile production in the region surrounding Abingdon, VA. These textiles were planned, produced, and passed down through families as important heirlooms. Adept skill in the processes of weaving, quilting, and sewing is evident in the complex designs of this regions’ ...

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A Material World

“Cause we are living in a material world, and I am a material girl.” Madonna, 1984 The 1980s were BIG. Remembered by many as a time of excess and extremes, this was not the case for all Americans. These photographs from the Richmond Times-Dispatch document a now legendary time in history. They also help us understand today’s ...

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Earthsea Imagined

Accompany dragons and wizards through fantastical landscapes in Earthsea Imagined. This exhibition at the William King Museum of Art is an opportunity to view world-renowned artist and local favorite Charles Vess’ fifty-six original illustrations for legendary novelist Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea saga.

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Steinlen: Cats and Steinlen: Humanity

Steinlen: Cats and Steinlen: Humanity features works by turn-of-the-century Parisian printmaker and illustrator, Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen. The William King Museum of Art brings together exhibitions developed by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and University of Richmond Museums, offering an ...

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Power & Restraint: A Feminist Perspective on Mormon Sisterhood

Roanoke, Virginia artist Page Turner collects items of deep personal meaning to painstakingly create delicate objects that honor the feminine, and the desires, experiences and roles of women. Raised as a devout Mormon, she looks to the Church and its complex history as inspiration. Her works are informed by the traditional hand-working skills that have been passed down through ...

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Let Him Speak First

Elizabeth Alexander manipulates discarded decorative materials, such as wallpaper and porcelain tableware, to create works that address cultural perceptions of homemaking and beautification. In this exhibition, Alexander explores these themes through repetitive methods of deconstruction and reconstruction. The phrase “Let him speak first” comes from a vintage collection of etiquette instructions for new wives and addresses ...

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