Applications are open for 2025 undergraduate and graduate programs – Apply now!

VCUarts students, faculty and alumni receive 2022-23 VMFA fellowships

By VCUarts staff

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) has announced the 2022-23 recipients of its Visual Arts Fellowships. This year, eight VCUarts students, faculty members and alumni are among the 23 professional and student artists receiving this prestigious fellowship. 

“We are extremely proud to have one of the largest fellowship programs in the country,” said Alex Nyerges, VMFA’s Director and CEO. “The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowship program is honored to recognize and support the many talented student artists and professional artists from throughout the state of Virginia.”

The VMFA Visual Arts Fellowship program has awarded more than $5.9 million to artists since 1940. This year, fellows were awarded over $120,000 toward their artistic careers. 

The professional fellows, who received $8,000 each, included VCUarts alumn Nastassja Ebony Swift (Craft/Material Studies), faculty member Bohyun Yoon (Craft/Material Studies) and undergraduate student Shanye Herrera (Painting + Printmaking). 

Graduate student fellows who each received $6,000 included Abi Ogle (Craft/Material Studies) and Aida Lizalde (Sculpture+ Extended Media). 

The three undergraduate fellowships of $2,000 were awarded to Elize Wojtowicz (Photography + Film), Alexander J. Sausen (Painting + Printmaking) and Leana Victoria Spain (Photography + Film). 

In addition to providing financial rewards to all recipients, VMFA exhibits works by past fellowship winners in VMFA’s Amuse Restaurant and Claiborne Robertson Room, VMFA’s Pauley Center Galleries and select spaces at Richmond International Airport. Several past and present fellowship recipients have also shown their work in the galleries of the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton and the Capital One Commons in Richmond.

Lead Image: By Alexander J. Sausen.