Treasure, Travel and Tenacity … Meet Ann Oppenhimer, Richmond’s Delightful Folk Art Entrepreneur

By Terry Haycock, Secretary/Treasurer

From the outside it is a stately brick Virginia home rich in history and tradition. But step into the foyer and you enter a world of color, imagination, whimsy and eclectic vision. And you are just on the threshold of Ann Oppenhimer’s world.

With her bright, intense blue eyes and snowy hair, this tiny energetic octogenarian is the force behind the Oppenhimer’s folk art collection. The many rooms offer examples of large and small sculptures and paintings, ballet point shoes and ladies flats brought to new life through painted scenes, mythical figures…and much more. Ann is eager to lead you throughout her home pointing out some of the stories represented by folk art from throughout the globe. She would much rather talk about the art and the collection than herself, but I did glean a few things.

A native of Tazewell, Va., Ann earned a degree in biology from the University of Richmond and later, at age 35, studied art history at Virginia Commonwealth University. She and her first husband had three children: Clair now in California and Mary Helen and Philip still here in Virginia. After her husband’s death in early 1980, Ann married Dr. William Oppenhimer. Between them they have 11 grandchildren.

Ann and William discovered folk art on their travels throughout the country. They established a collection of folk art, “…surely one of the most significant private collections of contemporary American folk art anywhere in America” (Phillip E. Bishop, the Orlando Sentinel). The collection in their home is just a sample of the treasures they have amassed.

When you read the beautiful, professionally designed and colorful Folk Art Messenger (FAM) magazine of the Folk Art Society of America (founded by the Oppenhimers), it’s hard to imagine that it began 35 years ago as a six-page newsletter written by Ann, who had no journalistic training. Recently, the now 40-page full-color magazine won four first-place designations in VPC’s 2022 writing competition. Check it out at www.folkart.org. Ann enjoys friendships and acquaintances with fellow VPC members and urges us all to experience and collect folk art.

Ann proudly showed me her photos of the recent FASA convention in South Carolina; she took them on her state-of-the-art cell phone and can work her way through them as speedily as a teenager. Many of them will appear in the coming issue of the Folk Art Messenger. She also said that the Virginia Museum of History & Culture currently displays 25 pieces of the Oppenhimer collection of Virginia folk art in one of their galleries. The exhibit is featured on page 10 of the Fall/Winter 2022 issue of Virginia History & Culture magazine (https://virginiahistory.org/).

In addition to their sojourns throughout the US (Santa Fe is a favorite spot), Ann and William have traveled abroad to France (Paris is their favorite), the Netherlands, throughout Europe, and to China, Taiwan, Cuba, India, Costa Rica, Nova Scotia and Japan. Their collection, of course, houses the folk art that tells the stories of the remarkable creative folk artists who call each location home. The Oppenhimers also attend the annual FSA conventions.

Although she admits that she “doesn’t have any spare time,” Ann tries to work out daily and enjoys visiting their cottage near the Rappahannock River. However, she admits that she no longer canoes. Spending time with her grandchildren is also a joy.

As colorful, focused and insightful as the folk art she loves, visiting with Ann is a delight. Contact her, and you will see what I mean.