Chrysler Museum of Art - Norfolk, Virginia

Exhibitions and Attractions at the Chrysler Museum of Art. Located in Norfolk, Virginia, the Chrysler Museum of Art has a wide collection of in-house, permanent art pieces and several exhibitions and educational activities that are constantly changing to entertain art enthusiasts of any age. In addition to the Chrysler Museum of Art, there are also a number of historical houses, including the Moses Myers house and the Norfolk History Museum at the Willoughby-Baylor House.

Combined, the Chrysler Museum of Art offers a fine arts museum and two historical houses. Originally founded as the Norfolk Museum of Arts and Sciences in 1939, later growth in 1971 from Walter P. Chrysler, Jr.’s private collection caused the name of the museum to be adapted in honor of the automobile heir and art collector.

The current collection of permanent pieces of art at the Chrysler Museum of Art includes American Painting and Sculpture, European Painting and Sculpture, Contemporary Art, Decorative Arts, Glass, Photography, and several works on loan. The American collection includes everything from colonial portraits to 1960s paintings and sculptures. The European collection, which ranges from jewel-like Renaissance panel paintings to modernist canvases, was a larger part of the donation from Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. The contemporary art collection has included the largest amount of growth, especially with assistance from donors and supporters. Decorative arts include a collection of 18th-century English furniture and silver and 18th-century Worchester porcelain.

The Chrysler Museum of Art also holds one of the greatest glass collections in America. Areas of strength in this collection include glass that was made in the 19th and 20th centuries, a Tiffany collection, and French glass from almost all major makers. The Chrysler collection includes over 4,000 photographic objects, which range from 19th-century daguerreotypes to modern-day digital works.

The number of exhibits at the Chrysler Museum of Art constantly changes to provide a fresh, new exhibit for museum members and guests. However, in the past, exhibitions have included Ansel Adams, Andy Warhol, M.C. Escher, Stardust, and more. They have also included photography collections from Gordon Parks, the National Portrait Gallery, and several types of portraits and paintings.

No matter what your interest or what your age, a trip to the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk will provide a mesmerizing and educational glimpse at several different types of art. Furthermore, it provides others to catch an idea of how history influences the works of those times and so much more.

245 West Olney Rd.
Norfolk, VA 23510
(757) 664-6200