Nashville Artist Guild

OUR HISTORY

- by Wyma Hornbuckle

Aptly dubbed "Athens of the South," Nashville, Tennessee continues to be a growing and ever expanding center for both visual and performing arts. The Nashville Artist Guild was born in 1950 when two art teachers from Vanderbilt University, one from Ward-Belmont, and another from the University of Tennessee Extension School brought together some of their students with other local professional artists and created a new artists' organization. Thirty artists were accepted at that time and the new group was called the Nashville Artist Guild.

Because the original members were themselves fine artists, many of whom served on the faculties of local universities, the rules established at the beginning required high standards for the work of new applicants. As time went by, Middle Tennessee University, Austin Peay College, Tennessee State University and Peabody College also provided outstanding members. Such well known visual artists as Puryear Mims, Walter Sharp, Joseph Van Sickle, Philip Perkins, Red Grooms, Louise LeQuire, Alan LeQuire, Bill Johnson, Greg Ridley, Betty Partee and many others became members.

In 2001 the Guild celebrated its 50th anniversary with a juried exhibition at the Parthenon which included works from both current and former members. In 2006 the LeQuire Gallery hosted an exhibition entitled "Art Without Apology" for the Guild's 55th anniversary.

Today, Nashville's oldest and most highly respected professional visual arts organization is moving steadily into the 21st century.  The Guild continues to honor its commitment to excellence in art, to ethnic diversity, to art education, and to raising public awareness of fine visual art without preference for - or prejudice against - any media, style, movement, or subject. Current members work in oil, pastel, enamel, glass, encaustic, mixed media, watercolor, wood, marble, stone, photography and digital media. Many members are also educators and Guild exhibitions are an important part of our mission.

 

OUR MISSION

The mission of the Nashville Artist Guild is to:

  • Maintain a not-for-profit organization of professional artists
  • Promote fine visual art as an integral part of Nashville life
  • Provide educational programs and opportunities which are open to the public
  • Provide member artists with appropriate venus for exhibiting their work
  • Establish continuing contact among artsits for the purpose of sharing and exchanging ideas, working toward mutual goals, and supporting one another as creative people

 

MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the Nashville Artist Guild requires application and is by juried acceptance only. If you are interested in becoming a member,  please choose 'Contact Us' and submit a request for information. Thank you!

 

MORE NASHVILLE ARTS . . .

Nashville, Tennessee is home to an energized community of visual and performing artists and art educators that goes far beyond the city's reputation as the home of country music - Music City, USA. For more information about the Arts in our area, follow any of the following links.