The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has received a transformative gift of nearly 2,000 photographs from Joy of Giving Something Inc., a nonprofit founded by financier and collector Howard Stein.

The $10 million donation:A new era for VMFA's photography

The collection spans two centuries and includes works by over 450 artists,from pioneers like Nadar and Atget to contemporaries like Cindy Sherman.

Highlights include rare daguerreotypes,19th-century vernacular images , and strong holdings in American documentary photography.

Alex Nyerges on the Stein gift

Director and CEO Alex Nyerges emphasized that this gift allows the museum to explore a vast array of photographic talent and will enhance its capacity to present the rich history of the medium .

The works will be integral to the museum's five new dedicated photography galleries, scheduled to open in 2027 as part of VMFA's expansion and renovation project .

Stein's photographic legacy

Howard Stein, founder of Joy of Giving Something Inc., has donated nearly 2,000 photographs to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

The collection includes works by seminal figures such as Nadar, Alfred Stieglitz , and Cindy Sherman, alongside rare daguerreotypes by Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey and important prints by Charles Marville, Gustave Le Gray, and Eugène Atget.

VMFA's photography collection: A 2,000-image boost

The donation will significantly enhance the museum's ability to present the history of photography.

The collection also contains nearly 200 19th-century vernacular photographs and cased objects, providing deep insight into the early development of photography.

Furthermore,it strengthens holdings in American and documentary traditions with works by photographers like Stephen Shore and Margaret Bourke-White, as well as contemporary voices including Alessandra Sanguinette.