Color Becomes

A Collaborative Exhibition by Melissa & Virginia Casanova

September 2–30, 2026
Main Street Station Gallery
Presented in partnership with Crone House

An Immersive Exhibition of Contemporary Abstract Painting & Ceramics

Color Becomes explores the transformative power of color through contemporary abstract painting and ceramics.

Featuring a new body of expressive abstract paintings by Melissa Casanova alongside handcrafted ceramic vessels by Virginia Casanova, the exhibition celebrates a creative dialogue between two artists whose work has evolved alongside one another over decades.

Although working in different mediums, mother and daughter share a visual language rooted in movement, layered surfaces, vibrant color, and joyful experimentation. Throughout the exhibition, painting and clay exist in conversation—inviting visitors to experience how color becomes memory, connection, and place.

More than a collection of artwork, Color Becomes is an invitation to slow down, look closely, and experience the ways creativity can be shared across generations.

Exhibition Details

Opening Reception

Friday, September 4, 2026, 6–9 PM

Meet the Artists

Thursday, September 24, 6–8 PM

We’ll be back in the gallery to talk about the work, answer questions, and share more about the process behind the collection.

And More Events Coming soon…

Exhibition Dates
September 2–30, 2026

Main Street Station Gallery
1500 E. Main Street
Richmond, VA 23219

Gallery Hours
The gallery is open daily from 8 AM–5 PM

The Story Behind the Exhibit

For as long as I can remember, my mom and I have created together.

What began as sharing art supplies around the kitchen table gradually became sharing ideas, techniques, and a lifelong love of making. Although we each found our own artistic voice, we’ve continued to influence one another in unexpected ways.

Color Becomes is our first opportunity to fully explore that creative conversation within one exhibition. Together, our paintings and ceramic vessels blur the boundaries between two mediums while celebrating color as a universal language of joy, memory, and connection.

Meet the Artists

Melissa Casanova is a Dominican-American contemporary artist based in Richmond, Virginia. Working primarily in oils and mixed media, she creates vibrant abstract realism paintings inspired by memory, heritage, architecture, and the natural world.

Her work is known for expressive brushwork, layered surfaces, and luminous color that invite viewers to discover new relationships between abstraction, place, and personal experience. Melissa has exhibited throughout Virginia and internationally, and her work is held in both private and corporate collections. She was recently named Richmond Magazine’s Best Local Artist for the second consecutive year.

Virginia Casanova is a ceramic artist whose handcrafted vessels celebrate movement, texture, and expressive mark-making. Working in clay for more than 15 years, her work has been exhibited in galleries throughout Virginia.

Created alongside Melissa’s paintings, her sculptural forms extend the visual language of Color Becomes beyond the canvas, creating a conversation between painting and clay. Together, mother and daughter have spent years creating side by side, continually inspiring one another’s evolving artistic practice.

Community Partners

This exhibition is made possible through the generosity and support of our incredible community partners.

Dinner Party RVA
Soul n' Vinegar
The Idea Center
Uptown Neon
Blue Bee Cidery
Custom Sign Shop
Wexel Art Displays

Follow Along

Over the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing behind-the-scenes studio updates, sneak peeks, and a closer look at the creative process behind Color Becomes.

Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter or follow along on social media for exhibition updates and RSVP information.

Press + Collector Inquiries

For collector previews, media inquiries, or exhibition questions, please contact:

hello@cronehouserva.com

Connect

Instagram: @melissacasanovaart