Fantasy Museum

Our Story

Born from a love of the impossible, built to make it permanent. This is how the Fantasy Museum came to be.

In Their Own Words

Watch Our Story

Hear directly from our founders, curators, and the community that made the Fantasy Museum a reality.

Coming Soon
Our story — in our own words.
Watch Our Story — Fantasy Museum, Richmond VA
Who We Are

A Museum Born from Wonder

The National Fantasy Museum was founded by Lauren Lael and Elias Dancey on a simple but radical idea: that the worlds conjured by human imagination are as real, as meaningful, and as worthy of preservation as any historical artifact or scientific discovery.

We exist to celebrate fantasy in all its forms — from the ancient myths that first lit fires in the dark, to the novels and films and games that carry that flame into the present day. Richmond, Virginia is our home, and the world of the imagination is our collection.

"Fantasy is hardly an escape from reality.
It's a way of understanding it." — Lloyd Alexander
Lauren Lael, Co-Founder
Lauren Lael
Co-Founder & Director
Elias Dancey, Co-Founder
Elias Dancey
Co-Founder & Creative Director
Our Spaces & Programs

What We Are

The National Fantasy Museum is not one thing — it is four. Each space serves a distinct purpose, and together they form a complete creative institution built around the art and craft of fantasy.

01

Fantasy Museum

The heart of the institution. Our galleries celebrate the full history of fantasy — its literature, mythology, visual art, film, and games. Traveling exhibitions bring these stories to communities across the country, while our permanent collection grows into a definitive record of the genre's cultural legacy.

  • Traveling & permanent exhibitions
  • Visiting speaker program
  • Scholarly research archive
  • Community education days
02

Art Gallery

A dedicated exhibition space for fantasy visual art — illustration, concept art, digital painting, sculpture, and mixed media. The gallery rotates shows from both established and emerging fantasy artists, providing a professional platform for work that often falls outside the boundaries of traditional fine art institutions.

  • Rotating featured artist exhibitions
  • Original works available for acquisition
  • Private viewing evenings for patrons
  • Artist-in-residence program
03

Fine Arts Studio

A working studio for traditional fine arts — open to the public, to our apprentices, and to visiting artists. Our studio program spans printmaking, glass-blowing, sculpture, ceramics, and any fine art discipline we choose to explore. This is where ideas become objects, and where craft is passed from one generation to the next.

  • Printmaking & relief printing
  • Glass-blowing & kiln work
  • Sculpture & ceramics
  • Open studio sessions for all levels
04

Animation & Film Studio

An animation and film studio working within the Fantasy Museum. The studio is dedicated to traditional hand-drawn animation — made on paper, in the classic style — as well as live-action fantasy film production.

It is a production studio, actively developing and producing original animated and live-action fantasy films.

  • Traditional hand-drawn animation on paper
  • Original fantasy film production
  • In-house development, direction & production
  • Based in Richmond, VA
How We Got Here

Our Timeline

From a spark of an idea to the doors of Richmond's most extraordinary institution.

The Beginning
The Idea Takes Shape
The concept for a dedicated fantasy museum is conceived — a permanent home for the literature, art, and cultural history of the fantastical imagination. Early conversations begin in Richmond, VA.
2025
Early 2025
Foundation
Building the Vision
The founding team assembles. Curators, designers, and fantasy scholars begin developing the museum's core vision, curatorial philosophy, and the first outlines of the permanent collection.
First Exhibitions
Crossworlds & Dark Fantasy Launch
The museum's first two major exhibitions are announced — Crossworlds Fantasy and Dark Fantasy — drawing from the full sweep of portal and horror-fantasy literature, from Lewis Carroll to Lovecraft.
Mid 2025
Late 2025
Community
Richmond Roots
The museum deepens its ties to the Richmond community — hosting preview events, building partnerships with local schools and libraries, and welcoming the first wave of founding members and patrons.
Digital Presence
The Museum Goes Online
Fantasy Museum website launches, bringing the museum's exhibitions, galleries, and story to a global audience. Interactive slideshows for Crossworlds and Dark Fantasy go live.
2026
Fall 2026
Coming Soon
High Fantasy — Gallery IV Opens
The museum's fourth major gallery is set to open — a sweeping exploration of High Fantasy, from Tolkien's Middle-earth to the great epic traditions that defined the genre for generations.
The Future
The Story Continues
Fantasy Museum is just beginning. New galleries, new exhibitions, new partnerships — the most extraordinary chapters of this story are still being written. Stay with us.
Beyond