VMFA Receives Historic Gift of 1,986 Photographs
By Darren Smith, Arts Reporter
May 21, 2026
In a landmark boost to American cultural heritage, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) in Richmond has received a monumental gift of 1,986 photographs from Joy of Giving Something, Inc. (JGS), dramatically expanding its holdings in the history of the medium.
This extraordinary donation, drawn primarily from the visionary collection of financier Howard Stein (1926–2011), spans more than 450 artists and nearly 200 distinct bodies of work. It stretches from pioneering 19th-century experiments to bold contemporary visions, encompassing historic daguerreotypes, modernist masterpieces, powerful documentary images, and groundbreaking later works. The gift arrives as VMFA prepares to open five new dedicated photography galleries in 2027 as part of its ambitious expansion and renovation project.
Howard Stein, former chief of the Dreyfus Corporation, began collecting photography in the 1980s and built one of the most comprehensive private assemblages in the United States. In 1998, he and his wife Janet founded JGS to support innovative projects in photography and youth education. After Stein’s passing, the foundation embarked on a thoughtful distribution of the collection to public institutions, ensuring these works would reach wide audiences. Previous gifts from JGS went to VMFA in 2023, including significant portfolios by Paul Strand and Larry Clark. The current donation represents the vast majority of the foundation’s remaining holdings.
Highlights include rare prints by 19th-century French masters such as Charles Marville, Gustave Le Gray, Eugène Atget, and Nadar, alongside nearly 200 early vernacular and cased objects that reveal photography’s social and inventive beginnings. The collection shines in American modernism and documentary traditions with works by Alfred Stieglitz, Berenice Abbott, Walker Evans, Dorothea Lange, Margaret Bourke-White, and Mary Ellen Mark. It extends into the postwar and contemporary eras with pieces by Adam Fuss, David Goldblatt, Gilles Peress, Fazal Sheikh, and Rosalind Fox Solomon, among many others.
VMFA Director and CEO Alex Nyerges praised the gift’s potential: “One of the extraordinary aspects of this donation is that it enables the museum to explore the work of so many talented photographers.” The addition will strengthen exhibitions and public programming in the new galleries. Dr. Sarah Kennel, the Aaron Siskind Curator of Photography and Director of the Raysor Center for Works on Paper, noted that the collection “opens new directions for future collecting—particularly through greatly expanded holdings of 19th- and early 20th-century photography—and will serve as a cornerstone for exhibitions… offering visitors a richer and more inclusive view of the medium’s history.”
Accompanying the artworks is a significant grant from JGS to support cataloging, conservation, and housing. Jeffrey Hoone, president of Joy of Giving Something, expressed delight: “It is the largest donation that JGS has made to any museum or university… and we are confident that it will complement and grow the major commitment the museum has already made to the field of photography.”
This transformative acquisition cements VMFA’s position as a leading center for photographic scholarship and appreciation. With free general admission and open 365 days a year, the museum continues its mission to make world-class art accessible to all.
Discover more about this remarkable collection and plan your visit at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Learn about the foundation’s impactful work at Joy of Giving Something, Inc. (associated site). Explore VMFA’s photography initiatives and upcoming galleries here. For deeper insights into key artists featured, see coverage in ARTnews. Additional details are available on the official VMFA press release.
Don’t miss this milestone—visit VMFA soon to witness photography’s evolving story unfold in new and inspiring ways. Your next visit could change how you see the world.
Cover image is Ai generated
