Today we’d like to introduce you to Veronica Szalus.
Hi Veronica, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Veronica Szalus has been immersed in projects focusing on art, design, and museum experiences. She has worked with museums and community arts organizations, artists, architects, and design professionals in a broad range of roles.
Veronica currently lives in northern Virginia where she creates installation art and serves as the executive director at the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association | Athenaeum and is a committee member for the Alper Initiative for Washington Art. As the Executive Director for the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association (NVFAA), located in Alexandria, Virginia she is responsible for mission alignment, arts programming, grant writing, budget management and upkeep of the historic Athenaeum building, the primary site for all of the NVFAA arts programs. The Athenaeum’s art gallery has a distinct mission that focuses on presenting contemporary arts programming specifically from artists who live or work in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC.
The NVFAA owns and maintains the historic Athenaeum building which provides a dynamic combination of contemporary arts programming presented in a mid-19th century (built in 1852) classical Greek revival building. It is a great example of repurposing a historic site to preserve it while simultaneously making contemporary art accessible to all. In essence, the Athenaeum showcases how something from the past can be used to present works of the present.
Veronica works closely with the pro bono gallery director and exhibition curator, Twig Murray, throughout the year to install and program exhibitions. On average, 9 exhibits with affiliated programming are presented at Athenaeum annually. The Athenaeum gallery remains committed to supporting local and regional artists by presenting free art exhibitions, artist talks, meet the artist socials, workshops and more.
In addition, the Athenaeum functions as an arts center by incorporating visual and performing arts, as well as art and humanities programming throughout the year. It is one of the few performing art venues in Old Town Alexandria offering music concerts, dance, and poetry events for local and regional audiences. By presenting a variety of arts programming in a gallery full of contemporary visual art, the gallery increases visibility of exhibiting visual artists and provides a setting for the intersections of art forms, disciplines, and robust exchange of ideas.
Veronica takes great pride in working at the Athenaeum where she contributes to the greater artist voice of the region.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Professional – Executive Director, Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association | Athenaeum
Practicing Installation Artist
Veronica currently lives in the Washington DC metropolitan area where she creates installation art and serves as the executive director at the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association and is a committee member for the Alper Initiative for Washington Art. She received a Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowship and has shown her work throughout the DMV region. She is also a member of Studio Gallery in Washington DC and has served as co-chair on the Gallery’s board. In addition, Veronica was a co-chair of PIC Green, an American Alliance of Museums professional network focusing on environmental sustainability, and she has served as President of Artomatic, a large Washington DC based multi-media arts organization dedicated to building community among artists.
Veronica studied industrial design at Pratt Institute in New York and jewelry design at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nvfaa.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/athenaeumnvfaa
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AthenaeumNVFAA/
Image Credits
PHOTOS
Veronica Szalus
Headshot
Photo by: Sheila White Guevin
Athenaeum exterior winter
Photo by: Veronica Szalus
Athenaeum exterior summer
Photo by: Veronica Szalus
Continuum | An Athenaeum Sculpture Invitational
January 29 – March 8, 2026
Photo by: Veronica Szalus
File Name: 1_Continuum_2026
Group exhibition at the Athenaeum
Continuum | An Athenaeum Sculpture Invitational
Artist Talk March 8, 2026
Photo by: Veronica Szalus
File Name: 2_Continuum artist talk_2026
Group exhibition at the Athenaeum
ESSENCE | The Characteristics that define us
July 3 — August 10, 2025
Photo by: Veronica Szalus
File Name: 3_ ESSENCE_2025
Group exhibition at the Athenaeum
Fleeting Moments | Street Photography II
August 8 – September 22, 2024
Photo by: Veronica Szalus
File Name: 4_ Fleeting Moments_2024
Group exhibition at the Athenaeum
Sally Kauffman | Pleasure Park
August 14 — September 21, 2025
Photo by: Veronica Szalus
File Name: 5_ Sally Kauffman_2025
Solo exhibition at the Athenaeum
