VMFA Receives Major Gift of Nearly 2,000 Photographs from Howard Stein Collection

Joy of Giving Something Inc., a nonprofit established by financier Howard Stein, has generously donated nearly 2,000 photographs to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA). This remarkable collection features works from over 450 artists, encompassing the 19th century to contemporary times. Notable pieces include rare daguerreotypes by Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey, as well as works by Charles Marville, Gustave Le Gray, Eugène Atget, and Nadar. Modern photographers like Alfred Stieglitz, Man Ray, Berenice Abbott, Dorothea Lange, Cindy Sherman, and Stephen Shore are also represented. Stein, who began his photography collection in the 1980s, founded his nonprofit in 1998 to promote photography and education. VMFA's Director and CEO, Alex Nyerges, noted that this donation will enhance the museum's photography history presentation and support new programming in five galleries set to open in 2027. Located in Richmond, Virginia, VMFA is among the largest art museums in the U.S., offering free admission year-round.