See what’s going on at the Frist during the dates you are planning to visit. Please note that the Frist is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Exhibitions

Three women looking around in an elevator with the walls covered in colorful art.

Afrofuturistic Visions: Dreamscapes of Sicasso

Aug 11, 2023–Aug 12, 2024
The Frist Art Museum presents Afrofuturistic Visions: Dreamscapes of Sicasso, an installation that showcases the beauty of African American people, culture, and history. The inspired artist Sicasso encourages those who witness her work to immerse themselves in dreamscape spaces. The installation, located in the Grand Lobby elevator on the east… Read More
Young man and woman looking at paintings

Black Joy, in Spite of. . .

Apr 5–Sep 2, 2024
This exhibition offers a three-dimensional picture of the Black American experience by focusing on moments of joy despite a history of pain and struggle. Guest curator Brigette Janea Jones has selected photographs made throughout Tennessee that depict the enslaved and their descendants during various time periods, including enslavement, Reconstruction, the… Read More
Man looking at garment in a case

Lee Alexander McQueen & Ann Ray: Rendez-Vous

May 30–Aug 25, 2024
Lee Alexander McQueen (1969–2010) redefined contemporary fashion with his extraordinary ability to blend exquisite craftsmanship with imaginative storytelling. Mythologized in his own lifetime, the press promoted him variously as fashion’s enfant terrible (terrible child), a troubled genius, and one of the era’s most visionary designers, yet there were few who truly… Read More
Man looking at several clay sculptures in varying shapes

Shahpour Pouyan: Winter in Paradise

May 30–Aug 25, 2024
In works of art astonishing for their beauty, sophistication, and virtuosity, Shahpour Pouyan critiques political power and expresses a poetic melancholy about the human condition. Born in Isfahan, Iran, in 1979, he now divides his time between Tehran and London, and his work is in the permanent collections of the British… Read More
People walking in a gallery

¡Printing the Revolution! The Rise and Impact of Chicano Graphics, 1965 to Now

Jun 28–Sep 29, 2024
¡Printing the Revolution! examines how graphic arts have been utilized to build community, engage the public around social concerns, and wrestle with shifting notions of the term Chicano, which Mexican Americans defiantly adopted in the 1960s and 1970s as a sign of a new political and cultural identity. During this… Read More
Close-up painting of a cicada with glowing lights in the background

Teens Take the Frist!
Focus on Nature

Jul 13–Aug 11, 2024
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 sixth edition of Teens Take the Frist! The resulting selection features artworks by over ninety emerging Middle Tennessee artists exploring the… Read More
Black and white drawing of a young woman with a blindfold over her eyes and her long hair flowing as she sips on a straw

2024 Young Tennessee Artists: Selections from Advanced Studio Art Programs

Sep 6, 2024–Mar 16, 2025
The Frist Art Museum’s tenth biennial Young Tennessee Artists exhibition will showcase over thirty two-dimensional works of art by students enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) studio art programs during the 2023–24 academic year. Artworks for the exhibition will be selected by a jury of artists, educators,… Read More
African American woman standing with her eyes close with red and black strings of bead around her head and wearing a red shirt.

María Magdalena Campos-Pons: Behold

Sep 27, 2024–Jan 5, 2025
María Magdalena Campos-Pons: Behold includes over three decades of the artist’s work in photography, installation, video, painting, and performance. Hauntingly beautiful and emotionally charged, Behold shows how Campos-Pons’s layered identity as a Cuban woman with ancestral roots in the Yoruba culture of West Africa as well as in Spain and China inform… Read More
Human figure surrounded by a burst of purple and yellow shapes surrounding it

LaJuné McMillian:
The Portal’s Keeper—Origins

Sep 27, 2024–Jan 5, 2025
New York–based multidisciplinary artist LaJuné McMillian combines extended reality software and mediums including movement and sound to provide an exuberant visual critique of oppressive systems that commodify bodies and otherwise limit free expressions. Working with motion capture (witnessing) software, their work often translates the movements of Black people, seen as… Read More
Large wave cresting in the ocean

Journey through Japan:
Myths to Manga

Oct 25, 2024–Feb 16, 2025
Designed with our younger audience in mind, yet fun and fascinating for all ages, this exhibition goes on a colorful, atmospheric exploration through Japan to show how popular stories have shaped the country’s art, design, and technology across the centuries. Divided into four thematic sections—Sky, Sea, Forest, and City—it presents… Read More

Events

Group of people, some in wheelchairs, listening to a docent give an exhibition tour

Making Memories: A Dementia Social Engagement Program

Friday, July 26, 2024, 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
Register
Sketch of a woman wearing a black gown

Adult ARTlab: Introduction to Fashion Illustration

Saturday, July 27, 2024, 1:00–4:00 p.m.

Studio A

Join Carrie Mills for a creative fashion workshop inspired by the exhibition Lee Alexander McQueen & Ann Ray: Rendez-Vous. Participants will be introduced to several fashion illustration techniques and approaches to create their own unique creations. Read More
Register
Two people sitting on the floor sketching on easels in front of three garments

Drop-In Drawing

Thursday, August 1, 2024, 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Gallery admission required Materials included (first come, first served); all skill levels welcome

Occurs the first Thursday evening of the month
Practice different techniques and skills, access technical guidance, and be inspired by the artworks in our galleries and the architecture of our building. Borrow materials from the station near the Ingram Gallery Information Desk or bring your own! (Note that only pencils and digital drawing surfaces are allowed in the… Read More
Saturated ice cream container

The Sweetness of Life Culinary Experience

Saturday, August 3, 2024, 2:30–4:30 p.m.

Auditorium $100 members; $115 not-yet-members (includes gallery admission and parking) Ages 21+

Join us for a sweet and savory culinary experience inspired by Black Joy, in Spite of . . . and African American food, history, art, and photography. Delight your tastebuds with a five-course ice cream tasting, savory bites, frozen confections, and cocktail pairings presented by Lokelani Alabanza (Saturated Ice Cream) with Rhonda Cammon (Perfectly Cordial) and Keshia Hay (Bōtanique).   Read More
Register
Sixteen scoops of different flavored ice creams

Family Ice Cream Social  

Sunday, August 4, 2024, 2:30–3:30 p.m.

Auditorium $10 members; $25 not-yet-members (includes gallery admission and parking)

Join us for an interactive two-course ice cream social made for kids and families. The social, presented by Lokelani Alabanza (Saturated Ice Cream), will focus on joy, art, and the food history of ice cream.    About Lokelani Alabanza Lokelani Alabanza’s professional culinary journey started in the United States,… Read More
Register
Dancers dressed in red, yellow, black and green outfits

Tennessee Emancipation Day Celebration

Thursday, August 8, 2024, 5:00–8:00 p.m.

Turner Courtyard and Grand Lobby Free

Join us to celebrate Tennessee’s Emancipation Day in conjunction with Black Joy, in Spite of . . .   About Tennessee’s Emancipation Day The Emancipation Proclamation went into full effect on January 1, 1863. Andrew Johnson, Tennessee’s military governor at the time, and later the 17th president of the… Read More
Colorful digital work featuring two Black women with large afros sitting in chairs facing each other with solemn looks on their faces.

Gallery Talk: Sicasso

Thursday, August 8, 2024, 7:00–7:30 p.m.

Grand Lobby Free

Join us for a gallery talk with the artist Sicasso to explore her Project Uplift elevator installation: Afrofuturistic Visions: Dreamscapes of Sicasso.   Read More
Abstract print on black paper with pink, yellow, and gray shapes

Family Drop-In ARTlab: Let’s Go Print LEGO®

Sunday, August 11, 2024, 1:00–4:00 p.m.

Studio C Free; no registration required; all skill levels are welcome

Join the Frist Art Museum for this printmaking studio workshop led by Sydney Bridwell, inspired by the exhibition ¡Printing the Revolution! The Rise and Impact of Chicano Graphics, 1965 to Now. In this workshop, participants will create prints using LEGOs by arranging a variety of blocks and colors to create unique designs. All supplies will be provided. Read More
Father leaning over his daughter watching her paint

Family Sunday

Sunday, August 11, 2024, 1:00–5:30 p.m.

Free for members and guests ages 18 and younger; gallery admission required for not-yet-members

The Frist loves families! On the second Sunday of each month, join us for special kid-friendly programming, a family tour, multisensory gallery experiences, and a visit to Martin ArtQuest.  Here’s what you can enjoy:… Read More
Gods and Kings book cover

Conversation: Dana Thomas and Libby Callaway

Tuesday, August 13, 2024, 12:00–1:00 p.m.

Zoom Free; registration required

Join us for this virtual conversation with acclaimed fashion journalist Dana Thomas and Nashville-based creative consultant Libby Callaway. Learn more about McQueen’s life and his role in transforming luxury fashion as told in Thomas’ book Gods and Kings: The Rise and Fall of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano. About Dana… Read More
Register
Woman sitting cross-legged surrounded by different size glass containers and holding a white rod over one of the containers

Sound Bath Meditation

Thursday, August 15, 2024, 6:30–7:30 p.m.

Rechter Room Registration required

Join us for a special sound bath meditation presented by Kayce Laine. Sound baths are full-body meditative experiences involving singing bowls, resonant sounds, and good vibes.   Wel Read More
Register
Three brown clay figures

Adult ARTlab: Poetic Sculptures

Saturday, August 17, 2024, 10:30–4:00 p.m.

Frist Art Museum and the Clay Lady’s Campus

Presented by the Clay Lady’s Campus and Teaching Artist Cassis Pitman   $60 members; $75 not-yet-members (gallery admission, and parking validation included)  Ages 18+ only. Space is limited. All skill levels are welcome.    Join the Frist and the Clay Lady’s Campus for a clay sculpture workshop led by Cassis Pitman. Read More
Register
Two cups of tea sitting on a platter with light foods surrounding

Persian Afternoon Tea

Sunday, August 18, 2024, 2:30–4:30 p.m.

Rechter Room $75 members, $90 not-yet-members

Join us for a traditional Persian tea time to celebrate Shahpour Pouyan: Winter in Paradise. Learn about the history and customs of tea drinking in Iran, one of the world’s most passionate tea-consuming cultures, with Chef Louisa Shafia, author of the cookbook The New Persian Kitchen and renowned authority on Persian food. Read More
Register

Frist Fridays 2024

Friday, August 23, 2024, 8:00–11:00 p.m.

VIP Pre-Party, 7:00–8:00 p.m. Ages 21+

Join us on August 23 for the second installment of Frist Fridays 2024 celebrating the closing weekend of Lee Alexander McQueen & Ann Ray: Rendez-Vous. Dress to impress to experience an exciting evening of fashion, music, and more. You won’t want to miss this electric evening featuring:  Throughout the… Read More
Register
Girl drawing at Frist Teen ARTlab

Teen ARTlab: WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SCREAM?
Using Printmaking to Be Heard

Saturday, August 24, 2024, 1:00–4:00 p.m.

Studio C Free; registration required; space is limited; all skill levels are welcome

Public art is created to reach a broad, inclusive audience and to make your voice heard. As teenagers, you may feel like no one listens to you, right? What would you scream to the world if you could? Let‘s use the techniques of block printing and design to make a poster to make your voice heard. Read More
Register
Model Karen Elson dressed in a sequence gown turning her head to glance at a man in the foreground.

Conversation: Karen Elson and Libby Callaway

Saturday, August 24, 2024, 3:30–4:30 p.m.

Auditorium Free; first come, first seated

Karen Elson was a model and muse to the late fashion designer Alexander McQueen, starring in some of his most iconic fashion shows, including a gorgeously choreographed turn in his S/S 2004 collection inspired by the film They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? as seen in Ann Ray’s photograph Deliverance I on… Read More
Young woman sitting on a stool drawing on a lap easel

Drop-In Drawing

Thursday, September 5, 2024, 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Gallery admission required Materials included (first come, first served); all skill levels welcome

Occurs the first Thursday evening of the month
Practice different techniques and skills, access technical guidance, and be inspired by the artworks in our galleries and the architecture of our building. Borrow materials from the station near the Ingram Gallery Information Desk or bring your own! (Note that only pencils and digital drawing surfaces are allowed in the… Read More
Outline of a large butterfly shape with faces and shapes inside the borders and words

Making Memories: A Dementia Social Engagement Program

Friday, September 13, 2024, 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
Register
Members of The Andrews leaning up against tall rock walls in a skinny alley

Music in Rechter: The Andrews  

Thursday, September 19, 2024, 6:00–7:30 p.m.

Rechter Room Free; gallery admission not required

Join us for a special performance by the Andrews in the Rechter Room.  About the Andrews Arising in 2022 from the fertile ashes of the Northern California guetteur de botte scene, the Andrews breathe a welcome breath of ambient farmhouse air into the heart-worn Americana landscape. Made up… Read More
Colorful prints and linocut printmaking supplies laid out on a work surface

Adult ARTlab: “The Power of Print: Making Messages into Multiples with Linocut Printmaking

Saturday, September 21, 2024, 1:00–4:00 p.m.

Studio A $60 members; $75 not-yet-members (gallery admission, and parking validation included) Ages 18+ only; space is limited; all skill levels are welcome

Join the Frist Art Museum for this printmaking workshop led by M Kelley, inspired by the exhibition ¡Printing the Revolution! The Rise and Impact of Chicano Graphics, 1965 to Now. Participants will learn easy ways to create multiples using linotype printmaking to send in the mail or hang up as posters. Participants… Read More
Register
Three vertical panels with a woman in the middle with long hair or feathers and magnolia blooms on either side

Member Preview:

María Magdalena Campos-Pons: Behold and LaJuné McMillian: The Portal’s Keeper—Origins

Thursday, September 26, 2024, 12:00–5:30 p.m.

Reservations are not required

Please join us for a Member Preview of María Magdalena Campos-Pons: Behold and LaJuné McMillian: The Portal’s Keeper—Origins on Thursday, September 26, from noon to 5:30 p.m. As a benefit of membership, our members are invited to enjoy exclusive viewings of our new exhibitions at member previews. Member… Read More
María Magdalena Campos-Pons in a yellow dress with white paint on her face

Performance: “A Mother’s Rivers of Tears”

Thursday, September 26, 2024, 6:30–7:30 p.m.

Auditorium Free; first come, first seated

María Magdalena Campos-Pons collaborates with Kamaal Malak to reprise A Mother’s River of Tears, an immersive performance that debuted at the opening of María Magdalena Campos-Pons: Behold at the Brooklyn Museum in 2023. Drawing on ancestral rituals of the Yoruba people, the performance is a manifestation of many healing themes mirrored in Behold. It… Read More
Work of art divided into 12 panels showing two Black women on either side holding a board with 4 figures and paper bags tied below the boat

Member Morning:

María Magdalena Campos-Pons: Behold and LaJuné McMillian: The Portal’s Keeper—Origins

Sunday, September 29, 2024, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Reservations are not required

Join us for a members-only viewing of María Magdalena Campos-Pons: Behold and LaJuné McMillian: The Portal’s Keeper—Origins on Sunday, September 29, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 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… Read More
Large wave cresting in the ocean

Curator’s Perspective: Journey Through Japan

Thursday, October 24, 2024, 6:30–7:30 p.m.

Auditorium Free; first come, first seated

Learn more about the development of Journey Through Japan: Myths to Manga from exhibition curator Mary Redfern. This lecture will explore how landscapes and popular tales have influenced and inspired art, technology, and design in Japan. Redfern will also share how the exhibition was curated for a wide age range and presented at Young V&A.  Read More
Dragon ship sailing in the water filled with pirate-like characters with a large color flag

Making Memories: A Dementia Social Engagement Program

Friday, November 15, 2024, 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
Register
Woman sitting cross-legged surrounded by different size glass containers and holding a white rod over one of the containers

Sound Bath Meditation

Thursday, November 21, 2024, 6:30–7:30 p.m.

Rechter Room Registration required

Join us for a special sound bath meditation presented by Kayce Laine. Sound baths are full-body meditative experiences involving singing bowls, resonant sounds, and good vibes.   Wel Read More
Register
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