- Frist Art Museum

Current exhibitions

American Art Deco Exhibition Now Open!

American Art Deco: Designing for the People, 1918–1939 offers an overview of an international style that manifested stateside in decorative arts, fine arts, architecture, and design during the 1920s and 1930s.

Presented in the Frist’s own art deco interior, the exhibition examines how the glamour and optimism of the Roaring Twenties and the devastation of the Great Depression shaped this iconic style.

Learn more

Exhibition Featuring Works by Renowned South African Artist Mary Sibande Also Open

The Frist Art Museum is proud to present Mary Sibande: Blue Purple Red, an exhibition of the Johannesburg-based artist’s hyperrealistic sculptures and photographs that confront inequities of race, gender, politics, and economics in South Africa.

Come experience these stunning, emotional narratives of resignation, hope, and anger.

Learn more

Expanded Hours in Martin ArtQuest!

Martin ArtQuest (MAQ), the Frist’s interactive art-making center on the second floor, is now open on the same schedule as the museum. Draw, paint, make prints, create a stop-motion animation, and so much more. Be sure to stop by soon to check out the new stations inspired by the American Art Deco exhibition.

Learn more

COVID Health and Safety Procedures

The Frist continues to require all guests, staff, and volunteers to wear masks while in the museum. If you are running a fever or not feeling well, please postpone your visit.

Click on the button below to learn about our current health, procedural, and cleaning protocols.

Learn more

Consider Donating Today

Join us in celebrating the Frist’s 20th birthday. We invite you to reminisce virtually with us by looking back on a selection of important exhibitions from each year of our history.

The 250+ exhibitions shown in our galleries speak to the continued focus on our founding mission. Contributions in celebration of our twentieth year ensure that the Frist Art Museum can continue presenting thought-provoking arts and education experiences for all ages, both in-person and online, and provide support for museum overhead and essential services. Every gift makes a difference.

Give now

Explore

View all events

Upcoming events

Oct 16

Teen ARTlab: Patterned Textiles

Saturday, October 16, 1:00–4:00 p.m.

SOLD OUT
Frist Art Museum Studio C
Ages 13–19 only. Space is limited. Free (all supplies, gallery admission, and parking validation included); registration required.

This event is sold out. Presented by Yanira Vissepo In this workshop with teaching artist Yanira Vissepo, participants will acquire basic skills for designing and making their own patterned textiles. Attendees will sketch and create their own designs, then use techniques such as stenciling and block printing to transfer images onto… Read More

Oct 16

Architecture Tour

Saturday, October 16, 4:30–5:30 p.m.

Meet in the Grand Lobby; no reservations necessary

Offered every Saturday at 4:30 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 4:30 p.m. every Saturday. Read More

Oct 21

Educator Workshop
American Art Deco

Thursday, October 21, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Studio B and Ingram Gallery; register by October 18.

Repeats on Saturday, October 23

During this workshop, examine artworks that highlight the glamour and optimism of the 1920s, as well as the Great Depression in the 1930s. Participate in a gallery tour of American Art Deco: Designing for the People, 1918–1939 and studio activities, receive teaching materials, and discuss curriculum connections. Read More

Oct 21

Frist at Home: American Art Deco

Thursday, October 21, 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 American Art Deco: Designing for the… Read More

Oct 23

Architecture Tour

Saturday, October 23, 4:30–5:30 p.m.

Meet in the Grand Lobby; no reservations necessary

Offered every Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

Oct 24

Gallery Talk
Art Deco and Dress: The Style of the “New Woman”

Sunday, October 24, 2:30–3:00 p.m.

Ingram Gallery; free to members; gallery admission required for not-yet-members

Join Amanda McCrary Smith, curator of textiles and dress at the Tennessee State Museum, for this thirty-minute talk in the exhibition American Art Deco: Designing for the People, 1918–1939 to learn more about women’s changing fashions during the interwar years. Read More

Oct 28

Frist at Home: American Art Deco

Thursday, October 28, 1:30–2:00 p.m.

Presented on Zoom; free; registration required

Oct 30

Architecture Tour

Saturday, October 30, 4:30–5:30 p.m.

Meet in the Grand Lobby; no reservations necessary

Offered every Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

Nov 4

Frist at Home: Architecture

Thursday, November 4, 1:30–2:00 p.m.

Presented on Zoom; registration required

Join us wherever you are for a Frist at Home tour—a closer look at the architecture of our building. Read More

Nov 11

Frist at Home: Medieval Bologna

Thursday, November 11, 1:30–2:00 p.m.

Presented on Zoom; free; registration required

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