History

Since 1996, the National Veterans Art Museum (NVAM) has held a unique position at the intersection of art, history, and veteran advocacy. NVAM is the only museum in the United States solely dedicated to art created by veterans, providing an unparalleled platform for storytelling, healing, and public understanding of the complexities of armed conflict. Through exhibitions, educational programs, and community engagement, NVAM fosters critical conversations about the lasting impacts of military service, not just on veterans, but on families, communities, and the nation as a whole.

Cultural Legacy

Artists who have served in the military have profoundly influenced American culture across generations, mediums, and genres. Walt Whitman, serving as a Civil War nurse, reshaped American poetry. Ernest Hemingway, a WWI ambulance driver, defined American literary modernism. Norman Rockwell's WWII Navy service informed his reimagining of American visual identity, while H.C. Westermann's experience in WWII and Korea as a Marine transformed contemporary sculpture. Dr. (Theodore Geisel) Seuss revolutionized children's literature following his WWII Army service. James Earl Jones elevated American cinema and theater after serving in the Army during the Korean War era, and Jimi Hendrix, who served with the 101st Airborne during the Vietnam era, revolutionized music and counterculture. These artists demonstrate that military service profoundly shapes creative vision and cultural expression.

Our Founding

NVAM's roots trace to 1979, when the Vietnam Veterans Art Group (VVAG) began exhibiting veteran artwork at a time when traditional galleries refused to show art about the controversial Vietnam War. Founding members included Sondra Varco, Rick Aztlan, Joe Fornelli, Ned Broderick, and Richard Hackett, later joined by Mike Helbing, Jim Moore, Neal Pollack, and many others.

Their first exhibition, Vietnam: Reflexes and Reflections, opened in fall 1981 and drew 150 visitors daily, receiving critical acclaim. The centerpiece, Above and Beyond, became the only artwork outside the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to represent all U.S. lives lost in Vietnam. The exhibition's success led to a national tour, with the collection growing as new veteran artists emerged in each city.

On October 12, 1996, NVAM was officially established when the City of Chicago, under Mayor Richard M. Daley, donated a warehouse to house the growing collection. In 2012, the museum relocated to its current home at 4041 North Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago's historic Six Corners neighborhood. Above and Beyond, now displaying all 58,307 dog tags, is currently installed at the Harold Washington Library Center.

Our Growth

What began as 700 Vietnam War-era works has grown to over 2,500 pieces from veterans of WWII, Korea, the Gulf War, and the Global War on Terror. Artists represent communities across the United States and internationally, including Australia, Cambodia, Hungary, Thailand, and Vietnam. The collection spans paintings, drawings, photography, sculpture, and literature with exhibitions honoring writers like Kurt Vonnegut and Tim O'Brien.

NVAM's exhibitions have reached 54 venues across 15 states and multiple international locations, drawing visitors from 46 states and 31 countries. We remain grateful to the VVAG founding members of Chicago whose tenacity transformed their vision into an enduring national institution.