VCUarts and Capital Square are partnering for the inaugural edition of the Capital Prize, two rounds of juried exhibitions of VCUarts alumni artwork, with prizes totaling $5,000. The collaboration was launched in fall 2025 with a call for entries for the exhibition, which opens to the public March 6. The Capital Prize will provide significant career opportunities for both emerging and established VCUarts Painting + Printmaking alumni artists, while strengthening connections between Capital Square’s residents and Richmond’s vibrant creative community.
The exhibitions will be displayed at Chasen, Capital Square’s new 352-unit multifamily apartment community located in the heart of Scott’s Addition—one of Richmond’s fastest growing and most sought-after neighborhoods. The artwork will be displayed throughout two floors of the Chasen building’s gallery space.
Juror Leila Grothe, operations manager for the Ruth Foundation for the Arts and former associate curator of contemporary art at the Baltimore Museum of Art, selected 20 artworks from 73 submissions by VCUarts Painting + Printmaking alumni. The first round exhibition, which opens to the public Friday, March 6, 2026, will showcase work by 19 artists. Winners of the jury-awarded prizes totaling $5,000 per exhibition round ($3,000 for First Place, $1,500 for Second Place, and $500 for Third Place) will be announced on February 21, 2026.
“The Capital Prize represents a dynamic combination of Capital Square’s vital contributions to our thriving city and the exceptional artistic talent cultivated at VCUarts,” said Carmenita Higginbotham, Dean of VCUarts. “This initiative also serves as a powerful reminder of the immense value VCUarts and our graduates bring to the Richmond community. By showcasing this incredible work in Scott’s Addition at Chasen, we are physically and culturally connecting our artistic excellence with one of the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods.”
“We are thrilled to partner with VCUarts to showcase the creative talent that Richmond offers,” said Natalie Mason, Capital Square’s executive vice president and co-head of development. “At Capital Square, we strive to execute high quality, placemaking development projects that serve the communities in which they reside. At Chasen, we look forward to bringing together residents, artists, and community stakeholders to celebrate Richmond’s thriving artistic spirit.”
The first round of the inaugural Capital Prize exhibition will present work by the following VCUarts Painting + Printmaking alumni:
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)
Eleanor Mahin Thorp (M.F.A. ’22)
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)
Luis Vasquez La Roche (M.F.A. ’20)
Mahari Chabwera (B.F.A. ’17)
Matt Shelton (M.F.A. ’12)
Nadia Msalek (B.F.A. ’02)
Natalia Mejía Murillo (M.F.A. ’23)
Pia Bakala (M.F.A. ’24)
Scott Whipkey (M.F.A. ’13)
Winston Harris (B.F.A. ’90)
Capital Prize juror Leila Grothe will give a public talk at the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU on February 19, 2026 at 12:30 p.m.
A public viewing of the Capital Prize round one exhibition will be held on Friday, March 6, 2026 from 5-8 p.m. at Chasen, 2922 W. Marshall St., Richmond, VA 23230.
