21 Nashville Artists You Should Know About
Nashville is a vibrant city full of uber-talented artists and makers. From abstract artists to potters, you are sure to find an artist you will love on this list!
I am of the persuasion that there is room at the table for everyone so I wanted to compile a list of local artists that you possibly haven’t discovered yet. (Let me know if I missed someone!)
Here are some artists in Nashville you should definitely check out:
Hannah Lane
HANNAH LANE IS A POETIC MIXED-MEDIA ARTIST WHO THRIVES ON WILD CREATIVITY AND THE EXPLORATION OF THE UNKNOWN.
A Louisiana native, Lane takes pride in her Southern genesis. Her work embodies the vibrancy and allure of the South, celebrating the varied landscapes, diverse cultures, and the heartfelt values of family and community that are deeply enmeshed in her spirit.
Not only is Hannah incredibly talented, but she is incredibly kind too. I had the pleasure of meeting Hannah several years ago, and she is so lovely!
Gina Julian
Gina Julian is a hard-edge abstraction painter who seeks to explore energy and motion through the use of flat color. She has long been fascinated by the effects of color on the human psyche and enjoys exploring the emotions that can be evoked by varying colors according to hue, saturation and value. Her color palettes are often experimentations of how colors interact with each other, and how the perception of color can be altered based on its surroundings. Gina also uses color variations to suggest movement in her works, often giving the viewer multiple perspectives on the direction of her crisp lines. She classifies her work as Optical Art.
Gina was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. With over 20 years of art direction, publishing and web development experience under her belt, she now enjoys painting full-time from her studio in Nolensville, Tennessee. She has a love of interior design and wholeheartedly believes in the positive impact of living with art and experiencing it on a daily basis.
Kristina Akers
Kristina’s love for color and creating is so evident in her work! After working in stationery and invitation design for six years, she turned her attention to creating artwork in 2016, and has been so grateful for every opportunity that has come about since.
Caitlin Shirock
Caitlin began her art career with a print shop (Cash Color) in 2017 and it has grown into so much more. In recent years, she has been creating original artwork and hanging her paintings next to some of Nashville’s most talented artists.
Caitlin is a gem of a human and wonderful artist!
Hillary Howorth
Hillary Howorth is a Nashville-based artist known for her unique, layered paintings.
Hillary’s collection of original contemporary art has been featured in House Beautiful Magazine, Home Design & Decor Magazine, At Home Arkansas, Serena & Lily, StyleBlueprint, The Scout Guide, and a collaboration with SPANX. Her work incorporates countless layers of paint and mediums with variations of color that add texture and interest to each piece.
Sarah Ella Cole
Sarah Ella Cole is a right and left-brained self-taught artist who finds balance in between the spaces on the canvas. She is drawn to the fine lines of geometry with the ever-present intention to paint them as aloof. She plays with all mediums to create multifold texture and finish. She finds inspiration from her favorite travel spots, textiles, architecture, nature, and wall coverings. Sarah Ella holds tight to her southern roots, and that inspiration will always find its way into each piece.
Lizzy Love
Lizzy Love is a painter living and working in Nashville, TN. She creates artwork on both canvas and paper, focusing on abstracted figurative works layered with patterns and shapes.
Lizzy’s current series of ladies is exquisite and I’m a HUGE fan of her work.
Kayce Hughes
Kayce has been dreaming up and creating colorful things for as long as she can remember. As a studio art major in college, she focused on drawing, painting, and photography.
For many years, Kayce's creative focus was in clothing. First working for Ralph Lauren in New York and then starting her own clothing line. In 2016, she decided to pursue art full-time.
Currently, Kayce enjoys spending her days in her Nashville studio painting everything from small paper pieces to large-scale canvas work. Her artwork is scooped up by many of today's celebrated interior designers as well as individual collectors.
Angela Simeone
ANGELA SIMEONE IS A CONTEMPORARY PAINTER LIVING IN NASHVILLE AND WORKING FOR OVER 2O YEARS. HER WORK IS PAINTERLY IN PRESENTATION AND HAS BEEN FEATURED IN NATIONAL PUBLICATIONS SUCH AS LUXE, FORBES, DOMINO, HOUSE BEAUTIFUL AND MORE.
Tess Davies
Tess Davies (formerly Erlenborn) is an artist from Nashville, TN. She graduated cum laude from Sewanee: The University of the South with a B.F.A under the honors program in 2014. Her studio practices include acrylic and oil painting, with a focus on natural textures, layered spaces and dualities. She takes inspiration from escapism and biological patterns and forms.
Deeann Rieves
Deeann is a contemporary artist working with mixed media, acrylic, and abstraction.
In all of her paintings, she uses a sewing technique called free-motion machine embroidery on top of painted papers and then incorporates those papers as collage.
The nature of the thread is strong but intricate; embroidery is permanent with the appearance of fragility.
Amanda Norman
An award-winning artist, Amanda has gained clients from coast to coast, including interior designers, art collectors, and celebrities. Her work is shown in galleries throughout the country and has been placed in homes and corporate collections throughout the world. Norman's paintings have appeared in national publications such as Country Living, House Beautiful, and Traditional Home.
Amanda lives happily in Nashville with her son, Ward, and their dog, George.
Lauren Ossolinski
Lauren’s first love is painting outside and she often works from plein air sketches to produce larger pieces in the studio. She has painted throughout the southeast and travels to Cape Cod every summer, where she has participated in member shows at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum.
Lauren’s work is in private collections throughout the Southeast, as well as New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, Nantucket, Kennebunkport, and Provincetown. She resides in Nashville, Tennessee.
Melodie Grace
I have known Melodie for over 12 years, and not only is she an amazing potter, she is one of my best friends.
In Melodie’s work, she instills meaning to each piece. Melodie “is most interested in honoring quiet moments, images or textures that evoke a memory or connection,” ensuring that each piece made “is its own small celebration.” Her passion for what she does is very clear and truly represents the fine art of pottery.
Deann Art
Deann has a beautiful studio and shop right outside of Nashville in Franklin, TN. She uses layer upon layer of palette knife texture that is reminiscent of tree bark and peeling barn paint.
Keavy Murphree
Ceramicist and designer, Keavy Murphree, has long been called to the raw and tactile process of clay creation. Sculpting from her studio in Nashville, Keavy employs varied techniques to craft distinctive pieces that augment living spaces through her signature blend of form and color. Keavy has discovered the intersection connecting the bold playfulness of folk art with the understated simplicity of modern design to create collectible pieces that are both offbeat and charming.
Many have come to know Keavy's work through her highly-recognizable Horny Beasts, an ongoing collection of faceless, horned animals, and her FACES collection.
Hayley Moree
Hayley Morée is a Nashville-based artist working primarily with acrylic and oil to create layered and texture-filled pieces.
Using vibrant color combinations influenced by nature and torn pages from her favorite travel and food magazines, Hayley pulls inspiration from the feeling of experience.
Hayley typically works in large-scale format with gestural marks, broad brush strokes, and expressive movement. Her main goal is to leave viewers feeling warm and enlivened by the art.
Blaire Wheeler
Blaire Wheeler is a contemporary artist. She is originally from Tyler, TX, but now resides in Nashville, TN. Blaire attended The University of Alabama, where she earned her degree in Studio Art. Her work is a balance of abstract and realism. She strives to highlight the beauty in everyday life through her work.
Blaire’s hummingbirds have become wildly popular, and you are lucky if you can snag one for your collection.
Alice Caudill
Alice Caudill is a self-taught artist from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Alice began painting at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic as a creative outlet while being at home with her two rowdy little boys.
Although she is known for acrylic abstract pieces, Alice loves to experiment with different mediums and styles. When Alice isn't holding a paintbrush, she is usually found throwing a football around with her two sons, George and Max, or on a field supporting her football-coaching husband, Ben.
Susan Johnson
Susan Johnson grew up in New Zealand before attending University in the United States on a tennis scholarship. After many moves, Susan now calls Nashville, Tennessee home with her husband and three children.
A lover of clean, simple images, Susan has a natural eye for composition and content. Ask her and she will tell you that she is happiest traveling with her family, exploring new destinations with her camera in hand.
I would be remiss if I didn’t include myself in this list. As an emerging artist, I look forward to connecting with collectors that resonate with my art and style. Art is truly my great love and I so enjoy seeing others experience it.
Vicky Reddish
Vicky Reddish is an abstract artist in Nashville, TN who thrives on creating fun and calming work with colors and textures.
Drawing inspiration from travel, nature, and cherished memories, Vicky uses acrylic paint and a variety of catalysts and mediums to create expressive, textured works of art. She is passionate about capturing the emotion and complexity of a moment or a memory in her work.
A Nashville native, Vicky is super proud of this city she calls home.
Nashville, Tennessee is home to some of the most talented artists in the world, from musicians and songwriters to painters and sculptors. The city's vibrant arts scene is one of its biggest draws, and there is something for everyone to enjoy.
One of the things that makes Nashville's arts scene so special is its diversity. There are artists of all ages, backgrounds, and styles working in the city. This diversity is reflected in the wide range of art that is available to see and experience.
In addition to its world-renowned music scene, Nashville is also home to a thriving visual arts scene. There are many galleries and museums in the city that showcase the work of local artists. Some of the most popular galleries include the Frist Art Museum, the Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, and the Zeitgeist Gallery of Contemporary Art.
No matter what your taste in art is, you are sure to find something to enjoy in Nashville. The city's talented artists have something to offer everyone.
