Director’s Message

June 2024

As I write these words the Museum is abuzz with activity. Our youngest patrons are enthusiastically exploring painting, ceramics, mixed media, creative writing, and more at Art Camps, running through July. Inspired by our summer exhibition, Rock ‘N’ Roll Billboards of the Sunset Strip: Photographs by Robert Landau, campers create as they learn about the power of art in public spaces. This widely popular exhibition chronicles the rise of classic rock and roll billboards— ephemeral pop-culture masterpieces—that loomed over L.A.’s most iconic boulevard.

Also, this summer, VBMA proudly joins museums nationwide to offer free admission to currently serving military personnel and their families through the Blue Star Museum initiative. If you have a loved one or neighbor who is active-duty military, please share this news and our appreciation for their service.

We entered the summer season propelled by strong winter and spring visitation, largely attributed to Ancient Egypt & the Napoleonic Era: Masterworks from the Dahesh Museum of Art. The annual Children’s Art Festival brought thousands more as families enjoyed free admission, art-making activities, and entertainment. Multiple student art exhibitions were displayed, including  An Artistic Discovery: 2024 Congressional Art Show Exhibition, sponsored by U.S. Congressman Bill Posey.

In April, the Athena Society held its annual dinner. Chief Curator Caitlin Swindell presented four works for consideration. The 185 Athena members in attendance voted to acquire Modiste (Spanish Girl, Madrid), 1906, by American artist Robert Henri for the Museum’s Permanent Collection. This will be a cornerstone for our growing collection of American art.

The momentum continues.

In the fall, we will present the original exhibition, Roadside Reverie: Glass Works by John Miller. Miller’s whimsical, larger-than-life sculpture is in the permanent collections of museums across the country and was recently the subject of a critically acclaimed exhibition at the Lowe Art Museum in Miami. This will be followed by the blockbuster French Moderns: Monet to Matisse, 1850–1950, a collection of 59 works from 46 artists, that exemplify the avant-garde movements that defined modern art during that period. An exciting line-up of speakers headlining the 2025 International Lecture Series will explore themes related to the exhibition.

The Vero Beach Museum of Art truly has something for everyone. We look forward to seeing you soon!