See what’s going on at the Frist during the dates you are planning to visit.


Martin ArtQuest®

ArtQuest is the Frist’s inclusive and interactive art-making space where guests of all ages can get creative—draw, animate, make prints, paint, and more!

ArtQuest is open all hours the Frist is open and is included with gallery admission (youth 18 and under are always free).

Mom, dad and two young daughters smile and hold up paintings they just made


Exhibitions

An Indigenous Present

Jun 26–Sep 27, 2026
An Indigenous Present, a thematic exhibition spanning 100 years of modern and contemporary Indigenous art, includes new commissions and significant works by 15 artists who use strategies of abstraction to represent personal and collective narratives, describe specific and imagined places, and build upon cultural and aesthetic traditions. Read More

2026 Young Tennessee Artists: Selections from Advanced Studio Art Programs

Aug 28, 2026–Mar 28, 2027
The eleventh biennial Young Tennessee Artists exhibition showcases some of the finest two-dimensional artwork by high school students from across the state. Students in Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) studio art programs during the 2025–26 academic year were invited to submit their work to be considered for… Read More

Shimmer: Dreaming the Posthuman

Sep 25, 2026–Jan 3, 2027
Shimmer: Dreaming the Posthuman features 17 artists working with both analog and emergent technologies to visualize the interrelationship between humanity, other species, and the earth itself. Read More

Robin Vuchnich: In Search of Thoreau’s Flowers—The Memory of a Season

Sep 25, 2026–Jan 3, 2027
The nineteenth-century philosopher Henry David Thoreau has long been celebrated for his profound essays on subjects ranging from natural history to social justice. In his most prominent work, Walden; or, Life in the Woods (1854), Thoreau meditates on the transcendent experience of living in direct communion with nature. Throughout his life,… Read More

Beauty and Ritual: Judaica from the Jewish Museum, New York

Oct 30, 2026–Feb 7, 2027
Drawn from the world-renowned collection of the Jewish Museum in New York City, this exhibition presents more than 130 Jewish ceremonial objects (Judaica) from antiquity to the present, including books, silver, and textiles. Read More

The Great Mughals: Art, Architecture, and Opulence

Feb 5–May 9, 2027
This major exhibition celebrates the breathtaking art and cosmopolitan culture of the Mughal court’s golden age (about 1560–1660) during the reigns of its most famous emperors. Read More

French Impressionism and the Nabis: Works from the Collection of Marlene and Spencer Hays

Feb 5–May 9, 2027
With his wife Marlene, Nashville entrepreneur and philanthropist Spencer Hays began collecting art in the 1970s. The couple soon developed a passion for French art of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and for more than 40 years, they built a collection that is today renowned for its… Read More

Through These Hands: Crafting Material Visions

Feb 5–May 9, 2027
Through These Hands: Crafting Material Visions features the work of four Tennessee-based artists whose innovate creative practices engage with Black craft traditions. Read More

M.C. Escher: Infinite Variations

Mar 5–Jun 13, 2027
Dutch artist M.C. Escher (1898–1972) spent his adult life pursuing the impossible and the infinite. This comprehensive exhibition, featuring more than 150 original drawings, woodcuts, lithographs, and mezzotints, traces the imagery that made him one of the world’s most recognized artists. Read More

Pop to Present: American Art from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Jun 4–Aug 29, 2027
Pop to Present: American Art from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts celebrates the diversity and creativity of American art from the 1940s to the present. Read More

Basquiat, the Blue Ribbon Paintings, and the Art of Reproduction

Jun 4–Aug 29, 2027
This exhibition brings to light Jean-Michel Basquiat’s rarely studied engagement with printmaking as central to his practice and as a site of innovation and collaboration. Read More

Beauford Delaney: So Much Love and Beauty

Jul 9–Oct 3, 2027
Born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, Beauford Delaney (1901–1979) pioneered his signature abstract aesthetic and lyrical style to harness the power of color at the intersection of key mid-twentieth-century art movements. Read More

Splendor and Luxury: French Art Nouveau and Art Deco

Oct 1, 2027–Jan 2, 2028
Splendor and Luxury showcases the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ renowned collection of French art nouveau and art deco—one of the most significant of its kind. Read More

Soul, Sound, & Voice: The Art of Jerry Pinkney

Oct 29, 2027–Jan 30, 2028
This exhibition underscores the profound influence of music in his life and work and features more than 75 works organized in three thematic sections. Read More

Events

Music in the Café: Ronny Criss

Thursday, September 17, 2026, 6:00–7:30 p.m.

Café Cheeserie Free

Join us for a special performance by Nashville-based singer-songwriter, Ronny Criss, in Café Cheeserie.  Read More

ARTlab: A Drinking Chocolate Workshop—Past and Present

Thursday, September 17, 2026, 6:00–7:30 p.m.

Studio A; $25 for members; $45 for not-yet members; SOLD OUT

Peel, pour and sip history! Led by chocolate historian Sophia Rea, this delicious workshop draws inspiration from the exhibition An Indigenous Present Read More

Architecture Tour

Saturday, September 19, 2026, 3:30–4:30 p.m.

Meet in the Grand Lobby Free; no reservations necessary

Offered every Saturday and Sunday 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 and Sunday. Read More

Teen ARTlab: Painting Techniques with Anna Pugh

Sunday, September 20, 2026, 1:30–4:00 p.m.

Studio A; Free • Registration is required Ages 13–19

In this workshop, you’ll learn about paint and how to use custom paint mixtures to create collaborative and one-of-a-kind collages. Read More

Jianhui London Trunk Show

Thursday, September 24, 2026, 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.

Frist Gift Shop

For more than two decades, Jianhui London has been creating innovative statement jewelry with sustainability at its heart. From recycled plastic bottles, paper, leather, and textiles to beads made from reclaimed wood pallets, Jianhui transforms unexpected materials into distinctive wearable art. Join us for a special trunk show featuring… Read More

Music in the Café: Duette

Thursday, September 24, 2026, 6:00–7:30 p.m.

Café Cheeserie Free

Join us for a special performance by local musical duo Duette in Café Cheeserie. Read More

Jianhui London Trunk Show

Friday, September 25, 2026, 10:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.

Frist Gift Shop

For more than two decades, Jianhui London has been creating innovative statement jewelry with sustainability at its heart. From recycled plastic bottles, paper, leather, and textiles to beads made from reclaimed wood pallets, Jianhui transforms unexpected materials into distinctive wearable art. Join us for a special trunk show featuring… Read More

Shimmer Symposium Keynote Conversation: Art, Technology, and the Posthuman Imagination

Friday, September 25, 2026, 6:00–7:00 p.m.

Auditorium Free for members and students; $20 for not-yet members Space is limited; registration is required

This conversation features Mark Scala, chief curator at the Frist Art Museum, in conversation with Christiane Paul, curator of digital art at the Whitney Museum of American Art. The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Tina Rivers Ryan, an internationally renowned expert on the history of art and technology. Together, they will explore how digital technologies are transforming artistic practice and shaping new ways of thinking about art, technology, and the posthuman. Read More

Shimmer: Dreaming the Posthuman—A Symposium on Art, Technology, and Empathic World Building

Saturday, September 26, 2026, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Auditorium; $18 for students; $25 for members; $45 for not-yet members; Space is limited; registration is required

Presented in conjunction with Shimmer: Dreaming the Posthuman, this symposium brings together leading artists, curators, and scholars for a day of thought-provoking conversations. Panelists will offer a contextual framework for the exhibition by discussing how, using both analog and digital technologies, art can give emotional resonance to such themes as… Read More

Jianhui London Trunk Show

Saturday, September 26, 2026, 10:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Frist Gift Shop

For more than two decades, Jianhui London has been creating innovative statement jewelry with sustainability at its heart. From recycled plastic bottles, paper, leather, and textiles to beads made from reclaimed wood pallets, Jianhui transforms unexpected materials into distinctive wearable art. Join us for a special trunk show featuring… Read More

Jianhui London Trunk Show

Sunday, September 27, 2026, 1:00–5:30 p.m.

Frist Gift Shop

For more than two decades, Jianhui London has been creating innovative statement jewelry with sustainability at its heart. From recycled plastic bottles, paper, leather, and textiles to beads made from reclaimed wood pallets, Jianhui transforms unexpected materials into distinctive wearable art. Join us for a special trunk show featuring… Read More

Architecture Tour

Sunday, September 27, 2026, 3:30–4:30 p.m.

Meet in the Grand Lobby Free; no reservations necessary

Offered every Saturday and Sunday 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 and Sunday. Read More

Homeschool Monday

Monday, September 28, 2026, 10:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Free for members and guests aged 18 and younger; $16 for not-yet members

Please join us for Homeschool Monday, and enjoy priority access to Martin ArtQuest with gallery tours led by museum art teachers. Read More

Educator Workshop: Shimmer

Thursday, October 1, 2026, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Studios and Ingram Gallery; $30 for members; $35 for not-yet members (all materials, museum admission, parking validation, continental breakfast, and lunch are included)

During this workshop, educators will learn about the exhibition Shimmer: Dreaming the Posthuman and engage in related activities. Read More

Music in the Café: AJ Huang & Friends

Thursday, October 1, 2026, 6:00–7:30 p.m.

Café Cheeserie Free

Join us for a special performance by the AJ Huang & Friends in Café Cheeserie. Read More

Sound Bath Meditation

Thursday, October 1, 2026, 6:30–7:30 p.m.

Auditorium; $25 for members; $45 for not-yet members (includes gallery admission and parking); Space is limited; registration is required

Join musician and sound practitioner Kayce Laine for a special immersive sound bath meditation in the Frist Art Museum’s beautiful auditorium. Read More

Educator Workshop: Shimmer

Saturday, October 3, 2026, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Studios and Ingram Gallery; $30 for members; $35 for not-yet members (all materials, museum admission, parking validation, continental breakfast, and lunch are included)

During this workshop, educators will learn about the exhibition Shimmer: Dreaming the Posthuman and engage in related activities. Read More

Architecture Tour

Saturday, October 3, 2026, 3:30–4:30 p.m.

Meet in the Grand Lobby Free; no reservations necessary

Offered every Saturday and Sunday 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 and Sunday. Read More

ARTlab: Poetic Photogrammetry with clay scofield and Chalet Comellas

Sunday, October 4, 2026, 1:30–3:30 p.m.

Studio B; $15 for members; $35 for not-yet members

In this workshop, participants will draw inspiration from works in the exhibition Shimmer: Dreaming the Posthuman to create collaborative poetry through collage and found language. Participants will also learn the basics of photogrammetry to express their poems with digital 3D images. Participants will experiment with chance operations,… Read More

Music in the Café: Roadie

Thursday, October 8, 2026, 6:00–7:30 p.m.

Café Cheeserie Free

Join us for a special performance by Roadie, a band that combines East-Coast flare with a Western Americana flair. Read More

Sensory Sunday Hour

Sunday, October 11, 2026, 12:00–1:00 p.m.

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

Explore the Frist Art Museum, the exhibitions, and Martin ArtQuest during a sensory-friendly hour. Sound levels will be lowered throughout the exhibitions. Engage with volunteers in the galleries at multisensory carts in selected galleries. Read More

Family Sunday

Sunday, October 11, 2026, 12:00–5:00 p.m.

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

On selected Sundays each month, join us for special kid-friendly programming, family tours, and multisensory gallery experiences. Read More

Architecture Tour

Sunday, October 11, 2026, 3:30–4:30 p.m.

Meet in the Grand Lobby Free; no reservations necessary

Offered every Saturday and Sunday 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 and Sunday. Read More

Music in the Café: Mike Carty

Thursday, October 15, 2026, 6:00–7:30 p.m.

Café Cheeserie Free

Join us for a special performance by Mike Carty in Café Cheeserie. Listen to live music while enjoying a delicious dinner, light bites, or glass of wine or beer. Read More

Conversation: In Search of Thoreau’s Flowers

Friday, October 16, 2026, 12:00–1:00 p.m.

Auditorium; Free for members; $10 for not-yet members; Registration is required and opens September 14

After experiencing In Search of Thoreau’s Flowers—The Memory of a Season, join collaborators Robin Vuchnich, a new-media artist, and Emily Meineke, assistant professor of urban landscape entomology at the University of California, Davis, as they discuss the creative partnership behind the exhibition. Read More

Architecture Tour

Saturday, October 17, 2026, 3:30–4:30 p.m.

Meet in the Grand Lobby Free; no reservations necessary

Offered every Saturday and Sunday 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 and Sunday. Read More

Music in the Café: Duo Sudeste

Thursday, October 22, 2026, 6:00–7:30 p.m.

Café Cheeserie Free

Join us for a special performance by Duo Sudeste in Café Cheeserie.  Read More

Workshop Series: Witnessing Art Through Expressive Writing - Part Two

Saturday, October 24, 2026, 9:30–11:30 a.m.

Galleries and Studio B Gallery admission and parking are included; Space is limited; registration is required

Join us as we explore how these modalities can promote healthy self-awareness, personal enjoyment, and care for both self and community. Read More

Architecture Tour

Sunday, October 25, 2026, 3:30–4:30 p.m.

Meet in the Grand Lobby Free; no reservations necessary

Offered every Saturday and Sunday 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 and Sunday. Read More

Homeschool Monday

Monday, October 26, 2026, 10:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Free for members and guests aged 18 and younger; $16 for not-yet members

Please join us for Homeschool Monday, and enjoy priority access to Martin ArtQuest with gallery tours led by museum art teachers. Read More

Music in the Café: Nikki Barber

Thursday, October 29, 2026, 6:00–7:30 p.m.

Café Cheeserie Free

Join us for a special performance by Nikki Barber in Café Cheeserie. Listen to live music while enjoying a delicious dinner, light bites, or glass of wine or beer. Read More

Opening Conversation: Beauty and Ritual

Thursday, October 29, 2026, 6:30–7:30 p.m.

Auditorium; Free for members; $20 for not-yet members;

Join a conversation with Abigail Rapoport, the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Curator of Judaica at the Jewish Museum; Trinita Kennedy, Frist Art Museum curator-at-large; and Seth Feman, PhD, Frist Art Museum executive director and CEO, to explore Jewish ceremonial art from around the world and across centuries. Read More

Architecture Tour

Saturday, October 31, 2026, 3:30–4:30 p.m.

Meet in the Grand Lobby Free; no reservations necessary

Offered every Saturday and Sunday 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 and Sunday. Read More

Educator Workshop:
Beauty and Ritual

Thursday, November 5, 2026, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Studios and Upper-Level Galleries $30 for members; $35 for not-yet members (all materials, museum admission, parking validation, continental breakfast, and lunch are included)

During this workshop, educators will learn about the exhibition Beauty and Ritual and engage in related activities. Read More

Music in the Café: Chris Tuttle

Thursday, November 5, 2026, 6:00–7:30 p.m.

Café Cheeserie Free

Join us for a special performance by Chris Tuttle in Café Cheeserie. Listen to live music while enjoying a delicious dinner, light bites, or glass of wine or beer. Read More

Educator Workshop:
Beauty and Ritual

Saturday, November 7, 2026, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Studios and Upper-Level Galleries $30 for members; $35 for not-yet members (all materials, museum admission, parking validation, continental breakfast, and lunch are included)

During this workshop, educators will learn about the exhibition Beauty and Ritual and engage in related activities. Read More

Frist Arts Fest

Sunday, November 8, 2026, 1:00–5:00 p.m.

Free for members and guests ages 18 and younger $20 for adults* *Military, senior, and student discounts are not available during Frist Arts Fest.

Join us for a day of indoor activities including performances, art making, music, and more celebrating our newest exhibitions, Shimmer: Dreaming the Posthuman, Robin Vuchnich: In Search of Thoreau’s Flowers—The Memory of a Season, and Beauty and Ritual: Judaica from the Jewish Museum, New York, and… Read More

Music in the Café: Young Original

Thursday, November 12, 2026, 6:00–7:30 p.m.

Café Cheeserie Free

Join us for a special performance by local swing jazz band Young Original in Café Cheeserie. Listen to live music while enjoying a delicious dinner, light bites, or glass of wine or beer. Read More

Workshop Series: Witnessing Art Through Expressive Writing - Part Three

Saturday, November 14, 2026, 9:30–11:30 a.m.

Galleries and Studio B Gallery admission and parking are included; Space is limited; registration is required

Join us as we explore how these modalities can promote healthy self-awareness, personal enjoyment, and care for both self and community. Read More

Member Morning

Sunday, November 15, 2026, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Members only

Member Mornings give Frist Art Museum members a relaxed way to start the day with early access to the museum before it opens to the general public. Enjoy docent-led tours, explore the galleries and Martin ArtQuest in a quieter setting, and experience the exhibitions from a fresh perspective. Also, members are invited to gather… Read More

Music in the Café: Parker James, Paul DeFiglia, and Anson Hohne

Thursday, November 19, 2026, 6:00–7:30 p.m.

Frist Art Museum Café Free

Join us for a special performance by Parker James, Paul DeFiglia, and Anson Hohne Three in Café Cheeserie. Read More

Art History Lecture: “What's So Scary About Using Tech in Art?”

Thursday, November 19, 2026, 6:30–7:30 p.m.

Rechter Room; Free for members; gallery admission required for not-yet members; Frist come, first seated

This lecture traces that recurring cycle of technological change, from photography and the photocopier to computer drawing and contemporary artificial intelligence models. Read More

Music in the Café: The String Smith

Thursday, December 3, 2026, 6:00–7:30 p.m.

Café Cheeserie Free

Join us for a special performance by The String Smith in Café Cheeserie. Listen to live music while enjoying a delicious dinner, light bites, or glass of wine or beer. Read More

Music in the Café: Tim Gartland Group

Thursday, December 10, 2026, 6:00–7:30 p.m.

Café Cheeserie Free

Join us for a special performance by Tim Gartland in Café Cheeserie. Read More

Sensory Sunday Hour

Sunday, December 13, 2026, 12:00–1:00 p.m.

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

Explore the Frist Art Museum, the exhibitions, and Martin ArtQuest during a sensory-friendly hour. Sound levels will be lowered throughout the exhibitions. Engage with volunteers in the galleries at multisensory carts in selected galleries. Read More

Family Sunday

Sunday, December 13, 2026, 1:00–5:00 p.m.

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

On selected Sundays each month, join us for special kid-friendly programming, family tours, and multisensory gallery experiences. Read More

Music in the Café: Chip Greene

Thursday, December 17, 2026, 6:00–7:30 p.m.

Café Cheeserie Free

Join us for a special performance by Chip Greene in Café Cheeserie. Listen to live music while enjoying a delicious dinner, light bites, or glass of wine or beer. Read More

Woven Nashville: An Evening of Music, Art, and Conversation

Thursday, December 17, 2026, 6:30–7:30 p.m.

Galleries Free for members; gallery admission required for not-yet members

This series brings together unique pairings of extraordinary Nashville creators working in all kinds of media. Each specially curated program pairs musicians with painters, writers, comics, dancers, spoken-word artists, and more. Programs are also inspired by and connected to current exhibitions at the Frist Art Museum. Read More

Member Morning

Sunday, February 7, 2027, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Members only

On Member Mornings, start your day with early access to the museum before we open to the public. Gather in the Grand Lobby for light bites and conversation. As members, you get to beat the crowd when checking out the following exhibitions – Beauty and Ritual: Judaica from… Read More

Educator Workshop:
The Great Mughals

Thursday, February 18, 2027, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Studios and Ingram Gallery $30 for members; $35 for not-yet members (all materials, museum admission, parking validation, continental breakfast, and lunch are included)

During this workshop, educators will learn about the exhibition The Great Mughals and engage in related activities. Read More

Educator Workshop:
The Great Mughals

Saturday, February 20, 2027, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Studios and Ingram Gallery $30 for members; $35 for not-yet members (all materials, museum admission, parking validation, continental breakfast, and lunch are included)

During this workshop, educators will learn about the exhibition The Great Mughals and engage in related activities. Read More

Educator Workshop:
M.C. Escher

Thursday, March 11, 2027, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Studios and Upper-Level Galleries $30 for members; $35 for not-yet members (all materials, museum admission, parking validation, continental breakfast, and lunch are included)

During this workshop, educators will learn about the exhibition M.C. Escher and engage in related activities. Read More

Educator Workshop:
M.C. Escher

Saturday, March 13, 2027, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Studios and Upper-Level Galleries $30 for members; $35 for not-yet members (all materials, museum admission, parking validation, continental breakfast, and lunch are included)

During this workshop, educators will learn about the exhibition M.C. Escher and engage in related activities. Read More

Member Morning

Sunday, May 9, 2027, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Members only

On Member Mornings, start your day with early access to the museum before we open to the public. Gather in the Grand Lobby for light bites and conversation. As members, you get to beat the crowd when checking out the following exhibitions – The Great Mughals: Art, Architecture,… Read More

Member Morning

Sunday, August 29, 2027, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Members only

On Member Mornings, start your day with early access to the museum before we open to the public. Gather in the Grand Lobby for light bites and conversation. As members, you get to beat the crowd when checking out the following exhibitions – Pop to Present: American Art… Read More

Member Morning

Sunday, November 14, 2027, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Members only

On Member Mornings, start your day with early access to the museum before we open to the public. Gather in the Grand Lobby for light bites and conversation. As members, you get to beat the crowd when checking out the following exhibitions – Splendor and Luxury: French Art… Read More
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