Past Exhibitions

Teens Take the Frist!

Jul 16–Sep 13, 2020
Prompted by our vision of inspiring people through art to look at their world in new ways, the Frist Art Museum invited teens to submit their artwork for this second edition of Teens Take the Frist! The resulting selection features more than fifty artworks in a variety of mediums, created by emerging… Read More

J.M.W. Turner:
Quest for the Sublime

Feb 20–Sep 7, 2020
One of England’s greatest artists, Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775–1851) was a leading figure in the Romantic movement of the late 18th- through mid-19th centuries, which arose in response to the Enlightenment emphasis on reason over emotion. For Turner, psychological expression and the liberation of the imagination were of paramount… Read More

The Nashville Flood:
Ten Years Later

Jan 10–Jul 26, 2020
On Saturday, May 1, and Sunday, May 2, 2010, a record-breaking rainfall of over thirteen inches caused major flooding throughout Middle Tennessee. The Cumberland River crested almost twelve feet above flood stage, and smaller waterways such as Browns Creek, Mill Creek, Richland Creek, Whites Creek, and the Harpeth River also… Read More

Eric Carle’s Picture Books: Celebrating 50 Years of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”

Oct 18, 2019–Feb 23, 2020
Eric Carle (b. 1929) is one of the most acclaimed and beloved illustrators of our time. The creator of more than 70 books, Carle combines winsome stories and colorful forms that appeal to young readers and adults alike. His signature artistic technique is collage, made by hand-painting many sheets… Read More

Multi-District School Art Show

Jan 25–Feb 9, 2020
The 2020 Multi-District School Art Show will feature artwork created by students at over thirty schools in four Tennessee school districts. More than three hundred young artists from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade will be included in this exhibition. Elementary and middle school art teachers will select two works per… Read More

OSGEMEOS: In between

Sep 27, 2019–Jan 12, 2020
OSGEMEOS: In between is an exhibition of sculptures and paintings by the Brazilian artist duo internationally celebrated for their vivid and playful public murals and studio work. The identical twin brothers Gustavo and Otavio Pandolfo—OSGEMEOS (the artists’ nom de plume; Portuguese for “the twins”)—create imagery that blends wide-ranging influences,… Read More

Hearts of Our People:
Native Women Artists

Sep 27, 2019–Jan 12, 2020
Women have long been the creative force behind Native American art; however, Hearts of Our People is the first major exhibition devoted solely to their work. This groundbreaking and comprehensive project features more than 115 objects—including traditional textiles, baskets, beadwork, and pottery, as well as painting, sculpture, video, and… Read More

Murals of North Nashville Now

Aug 10, 2019–Jan 5, 2020
With Nashville’s rapid growth in recent years, a vibrant street art scene has emerged. New murals can be seen on walls across the city, from The Nations to the Gulch to Nolensville Road. Murals found in North Nashville, a historically African American part of town, stand out because they are… Read More

Sumner County Schools Art Show

Dec 14, 2019–Jan 2, 2020
The fourth annual Sumner County Schools Art Show features artwork created by nearly two hundred young artists from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Elementary and middle school art teachers selected two works per grade level, and high school art teachers selected two works per course. Eighteen… Read More

Teens Take the Frist

Jul 13–Sep 21, 2019
As a part of the Frist Art Museum’s vision to inspire people through art to look at their world in new ways, we held our first open call for artwork by teens earlier this year. The resulting exhibition features over fifty artworks and reproductions created by young artists from… Read More