About

Cultivating extraordinary encounters with the visual arts

The Mary M. Torggler Fine Arts Center at Christopher Newport University is a non-collecting organization that seeks to enrich the cultural landscape of the commonwealth of Virginia by providing compelling art experiences for all, proudly offering exhibitions that are always inspiring and always free.

Whether viewing a gallery, taking a class, or attending a lecture, the Torggler invites you to explore compelling ideas through the transformative lens of visual art.

The remarkable 83,000 square-foot building features a luminous atrium capped by three cascading domes, symbolizing the three ships commanded by the university’s namesake, Christopher Newport. In addition to housing the Department of Fine Art and Art History, the Torggler offers the following amenities:

8,000 square foot main gallery for major exhibitions
Interactive Art Explorers Gallery for children (opening in 2026)
Community art gallery
Studio classrooms for academic and public art classes, workshops, and camps
150-seat auditorium

The center bears the name of Mary M. Torggler. Mary and her husband George are longtime supporters of arts and education programs at Christopher Newport. Through their generosity, they have created unique opportunities for artists in both the performing and visual arts to flourish.

The Mary M. Torggler Fine Arts Center presents changing exhibitions in four gallery spaces:

Anne Noland Edwards Gallery

Featuring work in a variety of media by artists with national and international profiles.

William M. Grace Community Gallery

Featuring work by local and regional artists.

Academic Gallery

Featuring work by Christopher Newport students, faculty, and alumni.

Microgallery

Featuring experimental projects in an intimate setting.

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