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Wednesday 10am - 5pm Thursday 10am - 5pm Friday 10am - 5pm Saturday 10am - 5pm

Museums at Washington and Lee University

Name: Museums at Washington and Lee University
Address: 204 W Washington Street, Lexington, VA, 24450, US
Telephone: +15404588768
Price range: Not applicable

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Museums at Washington and Lee University

We advance learning through direct engagement with the collections. Free admission and all are welcome.

The Museums at W&L advance learning through direct engagement with the collections and facilitate an interdisciplinary appreciation of art, history, and culture. The Museums at W&L consist of the Reeves Museum of Ceramics, University Chapel & Galleries, and Watson Galleries. Sign up for our monthly newsletter at http://eepurl.com/immQK6

06/23/2026

"When looking at the piece 'Summer Clouds,' I am taken back to a warm day with sunshine streaming through the treetops and fluffy clouds decorating the sky. The burst of warmth and light on the painting paired with cooler tones near the edges gives me the same feeling of 'Heaven Falls' [by Surfaces], especially when the harmonies burst through the chorus... The song makes me feel like I am floating in the sky, as does the painting."
- Angela Tu '24

"Summer Clouds" is on display in McCarthy Gallery as part of "Expressions of Color: Paintings by Evelyn Dawson," open Mondays through Fridays from 8AM to 5PM.

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Evelyn Dawson, Summer Clouds, 1963-1990, acrylic on canvas. Art Museum at Washington and Lee University, Gift of Mr. Larry Wynn '34, U1995.2.25.

06/21/2026

Yes, we all remember Hot Girl Summer, Feral Girl Summer, and Brat Summer. But at the W&L Art Museum, we're looking forward to a Louise Herreshoff Summer.

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Slide 1: Portrait of Lousie Herreshoff, Lazar Raditz, 1905, oil on canvas. Museums at W&L, Mr. and Mrs. Euchlin D. Reeves Collection in memory of Mrs. Chester Green Reeves and Miss Lizzie H. Dyer, UR1967.1.42.

Slide 2: Summertime Girl, Louise Herreshoff, ca. 1920, oil on canvas. Museums at W&L, Mr. and Mrs. Euchlin D. Reeves Collection in memory of Mrs. Chester Green Reeves and Miss Lizzie H. Dyer, UR1967.1.21.

Slide 3: Seascape, Louise Herreshoff, ca. 1915, oil on canvas. Museums at W&L, Mr. and Mrs. Euchlin D. Reeves Collection in memory of Mrs. Chester Green Reeves and Miss Lizzie H. Dyer, UR1967.1.57.

Slide 4: Harbor, Louise Herreshoff, ca. 1911, oil on canvas. Museums at W&L, Mr. and Mrs. Euchlin D. Reeves Collection in memory of Mrs. Chester Green Reeves and Miss Lizzie H. Dyer, UR1967.1.56.

Slide 5: Three Trees, No. 2, Louise Herreshoff, ca. 1920, oil on canvas. Museums at W&L, Mr. and Mrs. Euchlin D. Reeves Collection in memory of Mrs. Chester Green Reeves and Miss Lizzie H. Dyer, UR1967.1.15.

06/16/2026

W&L Art Museum staffer Lucy Gates '29 may have recently returned from studying art conservation in the Netherlands, but that isn't stopping them from continuing the European circuit by visiting art museums throughout France and Italy with their family this summer! When they return stateside, they will start work at a summer camp while finishing their project cataloguing W&L's collection of works by Rockbridge County's adopted son, Pierre Daura (Spanish-born, American; 1896-1976).

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Slide 2: Pierre Daura, Andorra, 1940-1950, oil on board. Art Museum at Washington and Lee University, U1994.0.54.

06/05/2026

That's a wrap, folks! Both "Moffat Takadiwa: Recoded Memories" and "Edward Burtynsky: Taking Place" are officially de-installed. We're sad to see the art go, but grateful for the many memories and experiences shared this past year!

People often ask what we do over the summer. The answer: get everything in order for our next exhibitions! Over the coming weeks, we will be patching and painting, documenting, shipping and receiving, ironing out details for programs, and finalizing our marketing campaign for our upcoming exhibitions.

Stay tuned for more details!

06/03/2026

This summer, Art Museum gallery assistant Viseth Meng '29 will be working as a program advisor for Washington and Lee University's Advanced Immersion and Mentoring (AIM) initiative. The program offers incoming first-year students personal and professional development opportunities, including the chance to partner with W&L faculty on their active research projects.

Viseth has proven to be a natural ambassador for W&L and the Art Museum while helping visitors at the Reeves Museum of Ceramics and Watson galleries, and we can't wait to hear about his experiences working with new students!

06/01/2026

The Reeves Museum of Ceramics and the Watson Galleries will be closed to the public this summer as we prepare for the upcoming 150th anniversary of the W&L Art Collection. During this time, we will be installing new exhibitions and preparing for our exciting line up of programs.

Watson Galleries will be the first site to reopen, with September 2, 2026 marking the start of "Block Party!", a show highlighting the work created by Chinese brush painter Zhang Xiaoli during her 2025 artist residency at the W&L Art Museum! Stay tuned for additional details!

Keep an eye out, as well, for "Portrait of a President: George Washington at 250," a W&L Art Museum interactive installation going up in the Leyburn Library on July 3, 2026.

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05/28/2026

Congrats grads! We at the W&L Art Museum are so proud of our graduating student workers!

Jordan Hoover, a double major in journalism and studio art, has worked at the W&L Art Museum for three years as a social media lead. After graduation, she plans on combining her interests in journalism and photography as a TV news producer!

Kate Martin, a double major in art history and classics, is a museum assistant and Poynor Research Scholar. She will be volunteering on the Agora excavation in Athens, Greece this summer, after which she will start her masters of classical archaeology degree at Oxford University!

Nora Kuhn, a double major in history and English literature, has worked at the W&L Art Museum for four years as an administrative and curatorial assistant. She co-curated "The Leyburn Edition of LONG TIME NO SEE" and is preparing to attend graduate school in the fall!

05/21/2026

More photos from Zimbabwe!

Based out of the Mbare Art Space in Harare, 15 W&L students are using their Spring Term to explore the intersection of art and sustainability with Director of the Art Museum Isra El-beshir and Associate Professor of Art Sandy de Lissovoy.

Through ARTS 238 "Sculpting Sustainability in Zimbabwe," the students are not just meeting local artists, environmental scientists, and members of the cultural community, but actively collaborating with them, gaining truly unique hands-on experiences that will stay with them throughout their academic and professional careers.

05/20/2026

While we will greatly miss museum assistant Kate Martin '26, we are so excited to hear about her plans for after graduation! Kate will be volunteering on the Agora excavation in Athens, Greece this summer, after which she will start her masters of classical archaeology degree at Oxford University!

Way to go Kate!

Address

204 W Washington Street
Lexington, VA
24450

Opening Hours

Wednesday	10am - 5pm
Thursday	10am - 5pm
Friday	10am - 5pm
Saturday	10am - 5pm

Telephone

+15404588768

Website

https://museums.wlu.edu/

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