Current Exhibitions

May 26–Aug 13, 2023

Storied Strings:
The Guitar in American Art

Baldessari Person with Guitar Red
May 26–Aug 13, 2023

Ron Jude: 12 Hz

Man sitting on a bench looking at three black and white photographs
Apr 7–Sep 17, 2023

Beatrix Potter:
Drawn to Nature

Young girl looking at the large Tale of Peter Rabbit image at the entrance of the Beatrix Potter exhibition
Apr 21–Aug 20, 2023

Guitar Town:
Picturing Performance Today

Woman dressed in a white dress with a hat and pink toned flowers in her hair playing guitar with band members behind her.
Aug 12, 2022–Jul 31, 2023

Elise Kendrick: Salon Noir

Elise Hendrick and Jonathan Diggs standing in front of one of Elise's artworks
Frist Arts Fest logo graphic

Enjoy Live Music, Art-Making, Performances, Family Activities, Tours, and Great Art This Weekend!

Join us for a weekend-long celebration of our newest exhibitions! Enjoy live music in the auditorium organized with WNXP 91.1 and songwriters performing in the Turner Courtyard; art-making with Hatch Show Print, Shelby Bottoms Nature Center, Turnip Green Creative Reuse, and in Martin ArtQuest; family activities with Rock and Roll Playhouse and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum; as well as exhibition tours, food trucks, games, and more!

See the schedule of events
Man looking at a case with three guitars

Storied Strings: The Guitar in American Art Now Open!

Storied Strings is the first exhibition to explore the instrument’s symbolism in American art from the early nineteenth century to the present day. Featuring over one hundred works of art and dozens of exceptional instruments, the exhibition will demonstrate that guitars figure prominently in the visual stories Americans tell about themselves.

Learn more about Storied Strings
Black and white photo of a glacier

Powerful Photographs by Ron Jude Now on View

Ron Jude: 12 Hz features imposing, large-scale black-and-white photographs made in Oregon, California, Hawaii, and Iceland depict the raw materials of the planet and its systems—lava flows, rocks formed from volcanic ash, river and tidal currents, and glacial valleys—that are the foundation of organic life. Stripped bare of the evidence of human existence, they remind us that these natural phenomena operate indifferently to our presence in the face of an imminent ecological crisis.

Learn more about Ron Jude
Teens take the Frist title in turquoise green and black

Teens, we want to see your art!

Calling ALL teens from Bedford, Cannon, Cheatham, Coffee, Davidson, DeKalb, Dickson, Hickman, Macon, Marshall, Maury, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, Williamson, and Wilson counties! If you are between the ages of 13 and 19, we want to see your art inspired by the theme, NOSTALGIA.

The deadline for entries is June 18.

Submit your work!
Explore
View all events

Upcoming events

Jun 4

Member Morning: Storied Strings: The Guitar in American Art

Sunday, June 4, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Reservations are not required

Join us for a members-only viewing of the Storied Strings: The Guitar in American Art exhibition. As a benefit of membership, our members are invited to enjoy exclusive viewings of our new exhibitions at member previews and Member Mornings. Member previews take place the day before new exhibitions open… Read More
Jun 8
Frist After Five graphic with photos of Summer of Soul and Moonlight

Frist After Five: Film Series

Thursday, June 8, 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Auditorium; free

Films presented on June 8 and June 29
We are excited to celebrate Pride Month and African-American Music Appreciation Month with free films during Frist After Five!  Read More
Jun 9
Man with long black hair sitting on a chair in front of a trailer holding a guitar.

Making Memories: A Dementia Social Engagement Program

Friday, June 9, 10:45–11:45 a.m.

Meet in the Grand Lobby
Free; registration required

The Frist Art Museum partners with the Alzheimer’s Association®, Tennessee Chapter, for this special event for those living with dementia and their care partners. Making Memories gives those affected by the disease an expressive outlet and forum for dialogue through guided exhibition tours, social interaction, art-making activities, and lunch.  Read More
Jun 10
Metal art deco vent detail

Architecture Tour

Saturday, June 10, 3:30–4:30 p.m.

Meet in the Grand Lobby
Free; no reservations necessary

Offered every Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
When was the Frist Art Museum built? Who was the architect? Can you tell me about the floors in the galleries? Enjoy a guided tour of our landmark art deco building at 3:30 p.m. every Saturday. Read More
Jun 11
Lots of children running around in Beatrix Potter exhibit

Family Sunday: Beatrix Potter

Sunday, June 11, 1:00–5:30 p.m.

Upper-Level and Martin ArtQuest Galleries
Free for members and guests ages 18 and younger; gallery admission required for not-yet-members

Repeats every second Sunday of the month
The Frist loves families! On the second Sunday of each month, join us for family tours, story tours, multisensory gallery experiences, and a visit to the Martin ArtQuest Gallery. A Family Tour begins at 1:45 p.m. at the Ingram Gallery information desk. Bilingual Story & Song with Rachel Rodriguez from… Read More
Jun 15
Woman looking at painting of man playing guitar

Frist at Home: Storied Strings

Thursday, June 15, 1:30–2:00 p.m.

Presented on Zoom; free; registration required

Join us wherever you are for a Frist at Home online tour—a closer look at some of the art currently at the museum. Spend thirty minutes in the company of our docents and other art lovers. This conversation will focus on Storied Strings: The Guitar in American… Read More
Register
Jun 15
Woman meditating in front of a large, colorful tapestry

Guided Meditation

Thursday, June 15, 6:00–7:00 p.m.

Meet in Grand Lobby
$5 members; $20 not-yet-members (includes gallery admission and parking); registration required

Join us on select Thursday nights as The Happy Hour leads a meditation practice in our galleries. During this program, you will be guided through unique meditations inspired by one of our current exhibitions.  Read More
Register
Jun 15
Frist After Five graphic with photos of Gabe Baker and Nick Tabron

Frist After Five: Music in the Galleries

Thursday, June 15, 6:30–8:00 p.m.

Ingram Gallery; free

Music in the Galleries presented on June 15 and June 22
Join us for live music in Storied Strings: The Guitar in American Art and celebrate Juneteenth and African-American Music Appreciation Month! Read More
Jun 17
Closeup of a mushroom house with a burgandy roof made of felt

Adult ARTlab: Needle Felting

Saturday, June 17, 1:00–4:00 p.m.

Studio A

Participants will be introduced to the basics of needle felting, a technique that transforms wool or other natural fibers into three-dimensional objects. Participants will create a mushroom inspired by Potter’s passion for mycology and will learn how to use contouring and color to transform their shapes into storybook mushroom houses.  Read More
Register
Jun 17
View of the vast space in the upper level of the Frist foyer

Architecture Tour

Saturday, June 17, 3:30–4:30 p.m.

Meet in the Grand Lobby
Free; no reservations necessary

Offered every Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
When was the Frist Art Museum built? Who was the architect? Can you tell me about the floors in the galleries? Enjoy a guided tour of our landmark art deco building at 3:30 p.m. every Saturday. Read More
DONATE. GIVE. SUPPORT.
Please consider supporting the Frist Art Museum with a donation. Your gift is essential to our mission of serving the community through the arts and art access in particular. We truly appreciate your generosity.
Support the Frist