Nashville Art Tour

Nashville area has a vibrant arts community with art galleries, festivals and art crawls. Nashville region was listed #2 in the country for Arts Vibrancy from SMU.

The Frist Center for the Visual Arts, The family-friendly Frist Center, located in downtown Nashville, is a world-class art center dedicated to presenting an ever-changing schedule of exhibitions from local, regional, national and international sources. The Frist features the award-winning Martin ArtQuest Gallery with 30 interactive art-making stations; educational programs; free live music on Thursday and Friday evenings; a gift shop full of hand-crafted merchandise; and a full-service cafe — all surrounded by gorgeous architecture. It’s a great place to explore, learn, and enjoy great art! They give an Architecture Tour at 4:30pm every First Saturday of the Month. Every inch of the building offers a piece of history to discover. Constructed between 1933 and 1934, during the Great Depression, the former post office is a prominent Nashville architectural treasure from the Art Deco period.
Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art: Often ranked in the top 10 in the country. Art aficionados and nature lovers alike should plan on making a stop at the Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art. With its greenhouses, sculpture trail and chromatic flower display, the 55-acre Botanical Garden offers sanctuary from downtown’s bustle. The art museum is just as beautiful: Housed in the original Georgian-style Cheek family mansion at the heart of the grounds, the museum boasts an impressive collection of 19th- and 20th-century American art, as well as antique furniture, temporary world-class art exhibitions and artifacts from around the world.

The Frist Center for the Visual Arts with Union Station in the Background
Step inside Music City’s art world with First Saturday Art Crawl. The first Saturday of every month, from 6pm to 9pm, art galleries around Nashville offer free admission to view their latest exhibits. Over 20 art venues participate, presenting local and world-renowned artists and artwork, offering the opportunity to meet and discuss art with like-minded individuals. Every genre of art can be seen bringing a truly amazing artistic experience. The Downtown First Saturday Art Crawl spans across all of downtown, allowing you to see everything at 5th Avenue of the Arts, 5th Avenue South, and in The Historic Arcade. Feel free to browse below to see what each gallery offers, and what they might feature on the next First Saturday Art Crawl. Arts & Music at Wedgewood/Houston is a new addition to this celebration of arts, welcoming guests into the WeHo neighborhood for a night of art and music.
The 5th Avenue of the Arts is the location of several visual art galleries on one historic block including The Arts Company, The Rymer Gallery, and Tinney Contemporary. The Arts Company is known as a prime destination for fresh, original, and contemporary artwork in photography, painting, and sculpture, by emerging and legendary artists. The Arts Company offers a distinctive Nashville experience in a welcoming environment of over 6,000 square feet in a historic building. The largest contemporary gallery in the heart of Nashville arts district is none other than The Rymer Gallery. Their goal is to foster artwork that entices, engages, and lures artists, collectors, and enthusiasts to Nashville’s expanding art scene. Tinney Contemporary also focuses on presenting cutting-edge contemporary artwork from a large portfolio of internationally known artists. Make sure to stop by the Tennessee Art League an organization dedicated to promoting visual arts through changing exhibitions, and workshops.
5th Avenue South holds two galleries that are an absolute must when attending the First Saturday Art Crawl. Arts in the Music City Marketplace takes place right inside the Nashville Visitors Center at Bridgestone Arena and offers the chance to view some amazing art. Just down the way is the legendary Hatch Show Print. Owned and operated by the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum, Hatch Show Print Haley Gallery showcases historic restrikes of original posters from the Hatch collection, as well as Master Printer Jim Sherraden’s monoprints. The appreciation, and contemporary interpretations found in the Haley Gallery, celebrates the classic wood blocks of the legendary Hatch Show Print. A sight to see, and a unique artistic experience in Music City during the First Saturday Art Crawl.There is a shuttle made available to take you back and forth between 5th Avenue of the Arts and 5th Avenue South. Click here to view the shuttle map.
The majority of the art galleries can be found in the historic Arcade of Music City right across from 5th Avenue of the Arts. Built in 1902 the arcade is filled with different genres of art. Check out Corvidae Collective that focuses on local artisans, handmade goods, and curated antiques. Next, see the Hannah Lane Gallery showing Hannah Lane’s vibrant contemporary paintings inspired by the world around her. For a diverse range of contemporary art and the opportunity for artists to merge with the community stop by Blend Studio. You cannot forget about Watkins Arcade Gallery (WAG). Witness the art from the many students who attend Watkins College of Art here in Nashville, as they put their work on display for all to see.Also in the Arcade is The Coop, a curatorial collective made up of artists, curators, thinkers, and professors who are committed to expanding Nashville’s dialogue with contemporary art by presenting challenging, new or under-represented artists/artworks in the community. Visual art lovers will need to pay homage to Carol Saffell’s studio L Gallery. Another unique spot is the O Gallery featuring the work of Olga Alexeeva who specializes in contemporary fine art.Photography buffs will need to experience Craig Brabson Fine Art Photography. Craig Brabson is a twenty year veteran in the photography business, and his work has been on display in many galleries and museums throughout the Southeast United States. Also, check out UltraViolet Gallery & Photography, a photography and art gallery home to Amiee Stubbs. The gallery space can be rented by artists and photographers who are interested in exhibiting their work during the Nashville Art Crawl.The Arcade has so much to offer for the First Saturday Art Crawl. Here are a few more that you must see before you leave: 40AU, Andy Anh Ha Gallery, BelArt Studio, Studio 66, OPEN, Nostos Gallery, and Space.
Wedgewood/Houston To coincide with the Downtown First Saturday Art Crawl, there is also free art and music walk in the WeHo neighborhood of Nashville. Dozens of venues, commercial galleries, artist-run studios, and co-working spaces exhibit groundbreaking art each month.Make sure you stop by contemporary art galleries like David Lusk Gallery and Zeitgeist Gallery, and creative, co-working facility Fort Houston on your art and music stroll. Arts & Music at Wedgewood/Houston is a 100% local event that takes you behind closed doors for a chance to experience new art, see live music and have a fun night out.
East Nashville, some people call it “Little Portland, Oregon” others say “Keep East Nashville Wierd” like Austin, Texas. Formally a rough side of town, East Nashville is a unique neighboorhood that has been gentrified over recent years with great eateries, bars and art galleries. The East Side Art Stumble is a monthly event produced through the partnership of galleries, businesses, and artists to bring people to East Nashville and showcase the neighborhood’s remarkable pool of creative talent. ESAS happens the second Saturday of each month from 7-10 rain or shine. The galleries, businesses, and studios stretch across the neighborhoods of East Nashville and Inglewood. The Art Stumble is a great way to meet local artists, buy and support their work, and be part of the art scene in East Nashville.
The Parthenon also serves as Nashville’s art museum. The focus of the Parthenon’s permanent collection is a group of 63 paintings by 19th and 20th century American artists donated by James M. Cowan. Additional gallery spaces provide a venue for a variety of temporary shows and exhibits.