She studied painting under Hans Hofmann in New York, and her work was included in the Peggy Guggenheim collection.

[6] Admiral, a painter, met Robert De Niro Sr., an aspiring artist, at one of Hans Hofmann's painting classes in Provincetown, Massachusetts.

In August, 1943, Virginia gave birth to their son, actor and director Robert De Niro Jr.[7] For a time, Admiral worked as a typist for Anaïs Nin.

She was the first of her artist cohort to sell a painting to the Modern; Jackson Pollock had his first sale to the museum two years later.

[10] She had a solo show at the same gallery in 1946 and her work was included in the Peggy Guggenheim Collection at the Venice Biennale in 1947.

[5] Admiral was active in political movements against American involvement in the Vietnam War and for the rights of artists and the poor.