Tennessee’s capital boasts a robust artist community and a wide variety of art institutions such as the Frist Art Museum, a number of university galleries, and a spirited DIY scene that includes some of the South’s most exciting artist-run spaces.
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Frist Art Museum
A large, family-friendly institution hosting a range of rotating exhibitions, programs and educational activities. Website Address 919 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203 -86.78355736440756,36.157902331199594
FEATURED IN
A Conversation with Diana Al-Hadid
Monsters and Myths at Frist Art Museum, Nashville
“Chaos and Awe: Painting for the 21st Century” at Frist Art Museum in Nashville
David Lusk Gallery
Fine and contemporary art gallery with locations in Nashville and Memphis. Website Address 516 Hagan St, Nashville, TN 37203 -86.7720186355902,36.14127266789542
FEATURED IN
Tactile Response at David Lusk Gallery, Nashville
Fable at David Lusk Gallery, Nashville
Brandon Donahue at David Lusk Gallery in Nashville
Zeitgeist
An established Nashville gallery, featuring new and experimental contemporary artists. Website Address 516 Hagan St #100, Nashville, TN 37203 -86.77200790675909,36.14127266789542
FEATURED IN
Land Derived Sentiments: Poems and Responses at Zeitgeist
Review: The Medium’s Session at Zeitgeist Gallery, Nashville
Unrequited Leisure
Unrequited Leisure is an artist-run gallery that focuses on emerging and mid-career artists that explore screen-based approaches to critical and topical investigations. Website Address 507 Hagan Street, The Packing Plant Arts Building, Studio C -86.77135100000424,36.14137001098604
FEATURED IN
Practice until you feel the language inside you at Unrequited Leisure
Famous Echoes: also tubes at Unrequited Leisure
Channel to Channel
A contemporary art gallery presenting bold, innovative, & challenging work from artists locally, regionally, and nationally. Website Address 507 Hagan St A, Nashville, TN 37203 -86.77138318651856,36.141396003651465
The Red Arrow Gallery
The Red Arrow Gallery presents museum-caliber exhibitions by local and international artists working in all media. Website Address 919 Gallatin Ave, Suite #3, Nashville, TN 37206 -86.74648072885452,36.18725998873617
Fisk University Galleries
Two gallery spaces with rotating exhibitions and a permanent collection of over 4,000 objects on the campus of Fisk University. Website Address 1000 17th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208 -86.84096100000318,36.16225033096438
Ground Floor Gallery
An alternative gallery and collective to connect diverse audiences with and artists, other art professionals, community builders and potential buyers. Website Address 942 4th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37210 -86.76936927116776,36.14956566835713
Elephant Gallery
Elephant is an art gallery and studio space in North Nashville. Website Address 1411 Buchanan St, Nashville, TN 37208 -86.80843300000544,36.17985067002998
FEATURED IN
Elephant Gallery in Nashville Debuts with Brett Douglas Hunter
Coop Gallery
Coop is Nashville’s longest established, artist-run project space and curatorial collective, established in 2010. Website Address 507 Hagan St, Nashville, TN 37203 -86.77135100000487,36.141404667897376
Vanderbilt Fine Arts Gallery
The Vanderbilt University Fine Arts Gallery promotes engagement with the visual arts among students and the greater community through exhibitions, collections, research, and instruction. Website Address Hall, Cohen Memorial, 1220 21st Ave S 36.14153087550496, -86.79923228744875
FEATURED IN
Symbols and Archetypes at Vanderbilt Fine Arts Gallery, Nashville
A State of Pain: Regina José Galindo at Vanderbilt in Nashville
Administering Secrets: Michael Aurbach at Vanderbilt’s Fine Arts Gallery, Nashville
Space 204
Located within the E. Bronson Ingram Studio Arts Center of Vanderbilt University, Space 204 exhibits contemporary art from local and national artists as well as the annual Margaret Stonewall Wooldridge Hamblet Award Competition exhibitions from Vanderbilt senior major students. Website Address 1204 25th Avenue South -86.8067426441973,36.14108548218083
Hiram Van Gordon Gallery
Hiram Van Gordon Gallery is located in Tennessee State University and offers approximately six exhibitions yearly that highlight the works of TSU students, faculty and alumni in the visual arts, African American and African artists, social and civic engaged work along with conversations regarding sustainable environmental practices in art. Website Address 1108 37th Ave N in Elliot Hall, Room 118 -36.167861611765424, -86.83174635342111
Tinney Contemporary
Tinney Contemporary is an art gallery located in downtown Nashville. The gallery supports and represents local, national, and international artists. Website Address 237 Rep. John Lewis Way -86.78089295365632, 36.1643637685639
FEATURED IN
Black Art Matters in “Topography,” at Tinney Contemporary, Nashville
David Yarrow’s Animal Planet at Tinney Contemporary in Nashville
Divine Drips: Jane Braddock at Tinney Contemporary, Nashville
Random Sample
Random Sample highlights local emerging artists looking for an approachable space to exhibit their work. RS also hosts small concerts, book clubs, and is home to a small gift shop that showcases artisanal goods from multiple local artists. Website Address 407 48th Ave N -86.84485738147639,36.15234622011032
Cheekwood Estate and Gardens
Cheekwood is a 55-acre botanical garden and art museum located on the historic Cheek estate. The second floor of the Historic Mansion & Museum serves as a gallery for the museum’s permanent collection and features rotating exhibitions throughout the year. Website Address 1200 Forrest Park Drive -86.87662190357153,36.089203578097994
Modfellows Art Gallery
Modfellows exhibits numerous pieces of art from talented artists of all different disciplines and backgrounds. The gallery also sells many works by local artists from the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s on the secondary art market. Website Address 3655 Trousdale Dr. Studio C -86.75039320435738,36.09149269671097