The Capital Prize and accompanying juried exhibition series is made possible through a partnership between VCUarts and Capital Square, offering Painting and Printmaking alumni the opportunity to exhibit their work in Capital Square’s new Chasen building in Scott’s Addition.

The prize features two rounds, each showcasing the talent of the Department of Fine Arts’ Painting and Printmaking alumni. This unique opportunity places alumni work in a dynamic residential setting, providing visibility in one of Richmond’s most active creative neighborhoods while contributing to a vibrant arts community.

 

Learn more about Chasen.

The Capital Prize is made possible through the generous support of Capital Square.

 

Round One Winners

Pillar and Cadence

Natalia Mejía Murillo (First Prize, Round One, Capital Square Prize 2026)

The award for First Place and recipient of the $3,000 prize in round one of the inaugural, 2026 Capital Square Prize, goes to Natalia Mejía Murillo (M.F.A ‘23). Murillo, (b. Bogotá, Colombia), is a visual artist whose work explores the notions of territory, repetition, trace and time through correspondences between astronomy, cartography and archaeology. She holds an MFA in Painting and Printmaking from Virginia Commonwealth University, an MA in History and Theory of Art and a BFA from the National University of Colombia.

A Few Rules for Predicting the Future

Luis Vasquez La Roche (Second Prize, Round One, Capital Square Prize 2026)

The award for Second Place and recipient of the $1,500 prize in round one of the inaugural, 2026 Capital Square Prize, goes to Luis Vasquez La Roche (M.F.A.’20). La Roche is an artist and educator who resides between Trinidad and Tobago and Virginia. They hold an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University. They are a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Art and Design at George Mason University in Northern Virginia.

Trölls

Eleanor Mahin Thorp (Third Prize, Round One, Capital Square Prize 2026)

The award for Third Place and recipient of the $500 prize in round one of the inaugural, 2026 Capital Square Prize, goes to Eleanor Mahin Thorp (M.F.A.’22). Thorpe was featured on Yellowstone Public Radio in 2025. Her work has been featured in the Washington Post and published in Anarchist Review of Books. She currently teaches at City College at City University of New York.

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Capital Prize Exhibition

Round One

The first round of the inaugural Capital Prize exhibition presents work by the following VCUarts Painting and Printmaking alumni:

First Prize: Natalia Mejía Murillo (M.F.A. ’23)
Second Prize: Luis Vasquez La Roche (M.F.A. ’20)
Third Prize: Eleanor Mahin Thorp (M.F.A. ’22)

Aaron Tran (B.F.A. ’24)
Amy Chan (M.F.A. ’08)
Angelica Credle (B.F.A. ’21)
Alexandra McGowan (B.F.A. ’23)
Chunghee Yun (M.F.A. ’24)
GM Keaton (M.F.A. ’20)
Julia Nauroth (B.F.A. ’23)
Juliana Bustillo (M.F.A. ’22)
Kristen Andes (B.F.A. ’24)
Louisa Bodor (B.F.A. ’25)
Mahari Chabwera (B.F.A. ’17)
Matt Shelton (M.F.A. ’12)
Nadia Msalek (B.F.A. ’02)
Pia Bakala (M.F.A. ’24)
Scott Whipkey (M.F.A. ’13)
Winston Harris (B.F.A. ’90)