Art in the Elevator
Here with You: Awake and Dreaming
Opens May 7, 2026
Main Level Elevator
Through the paintings of Dylan Camp, Here with You: Awake and Dreaming engages viewers in a conversation on the joy of dreams and suggests that dreaming can be a space of imagination and transformation. The painting Here with You guides the viewer to the Main Level elevator, and the characters in Water to Wine in Front of my Homegirl welcome the visitor into the elevator. The elevator itself, as a vessel, has been transformed into a space to welcome introspection about community as visitors step into the presence of Camp’s characters.
Inspired by the South and her family heritage, Camp’s world reflects optimism for the future. Her characters stand in their individuality together, adorned in colorful clothes.
As you travel with Camp’s characters, ask yourself: Are there any characters you feel drawn to in Camp’s paintings? Do any of them remind you of people you know? As you ride the elevator in the presence of Camp’s characters, ask yourself:
Who do we surround ourselves with? Who are our neighbors, and how do we live with them physically and emotionally? How do our relationships transform into community?
About the Curator
Sydney Nelson is a junior art student at Fisk University. She has an interest in curation as well as the fine arts. Born in Nashville, she attended Hume-Fogg, down the street from the Frist Art Museum. She is passionate about art and its ability to connect people through a shared visual language. In her own art practice, she is exploring applied arts and the way Black women have historically used fiber arts to support and stitch together their communities.
About the Artist
Dylan Camp is a Tennessee painter whose works display her experience growing up as a Black American in the South. Her work captures the beauty, spirituality, and strength found in lived experiences. She works with acrylic to paint dreamlike works. Her depictions of her characters display pride and self-confidence in their individuality.
About the Designer
Autumn Cruse is a recent graduate from Tennessee State University with a bachelor of science and liberal arts degree. She grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. Growing up, Autumn was inspired by the lively branding and environmental design of the Bengals’ stadium in Ohio. Her passion for design also has extended to assisting brands with affordable branding to help their businesses grow. Autumn has a freelance graphic design agency called Glomani Graphics.
Top image: Dylan Camp. Here With You, 2025. Acrylic on canvas; 42 x 48 in. Courtesy of the artist. © Dylan Camp. Photo: John Schweikert
