Little Art Gallery Coming to Mt. Vernon Plaza Along Richmond Highway

Alexandria, VA – A miniature art gallery is coming to the Richmond Highway Corridor. The Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation (SFDC) will install its first Free Little Art Gallery — called a “Flag” — on Thursday, May 8, at 12:30 p.m. at the Mt. Vernon Plaza Parklette, 7698 Richmond Highway.

The gallery, created in collaboration with local artist Lorena Garcia, works like a tiny lending library for art. Visitors can browse small pieces left by neighbors, take what they love, and leave something of their own in its place. The guiding motto: “Take Art, Make Art, Leave Art, Love Art.”

“This project is another step in building a stronger visual identity for Richmond Highway while giving residents a direct way to contribute creatively to the corridor,” said Evan Kaufman, SFDC’s executive director. “The goal is to make public spaces more interactive, welcoming, and reflective of the community that lives here.”

Volunteers from the Mount Vernon Arts Council, led by Cathy Hosek, will keep the gallery stocked and refreshed with new work on a rotating basis.

The Flag is the latest in a series of public art efforts SFDC has brought to the corridor, which already includes the Faces of 1 sculpture series and several large-scale murals. Mt. Vernon Plaza is home to two of those sculptures and multiple murals, the result of an ongoing partnership between SFDC and Federal Realty Investment Trust, which owns the shopping center.

SFDC plans to add more Flag galleries at other locations along Richmond Highway, with the goal of creating a connected network of small creative stops that draw repeat visitors and foster local artistic expression.

For more information or to suggest a future site, contact the Mount Vernon District Art Council at [email protected].