Richmond Jazz Society
VIRGINIA JAZZ: THE EARLY YEARS
Virginia Jazz: The Early Years explores an often-overlooked chapter of American music history, highlighting the vital contributions of Virginia musicians to the development of jazz from the early 1900s through the mid-1960s. Centered on Richmond’s Jackson Ward, once known as the “Harlem of the South,” the exhibition spotlights 35 Virginia artists whose innovation and influence helped shape jazz as a distinctly American art form. Through stories of culture, tradition, and creative exchange, the exhibition repositions Virginia as a key place in jazz history and invites reflection on voices too often left unheard.
Explorers Studio partnered with the Richmond Jazz Society to develop and design the exhibition at The Valentine, creating an immersive environment that celebrates six decades of Virginia jazz artists. Working with primary historic photographs and ephemera, the design highlights individual musicians while maximizing the use of the gallery space. Bold color and graphic forms introduce a sense of rhythm and movement, echoing the improvisational nature of jazz. The exhibition was also adapted for presentation at the Black History Museum, extending its reach to new audiences while maintaining a cohesive and flexible visual system.
