Seek.

Diamond Liggins

For Diamond Liggins, evolving and growing is synonymous with being an artist.

Apply

Bring your vision. We'll provide knowledge, resources, and mentors to help bring it to life. Deal?

Start the application process »

Monday Motivation.
Wisdom from those who've been there.

A work of art is the trace of a magnificent struggle.

Grace Hartigan, artist

Request Info

Start your journey by speaking with an artist in the Admissions office.

The latest on social media

Apr 24, 2019

FLUENT4 tonight 6-8pm at Main Street Gallery.

Apr 24, 2019

Tonight, the senior show in graphic design and illustration: fluent4.show/index.html

Apr 24, 2019

We're pleased to announce the 2019 Commencement speaker: https://www.watkins.edu/news/klukas-watkins-commencement/

Work.

Unframed.
Up close with the artists

The Female Gaze

We asked women at Watkins for their perspectives on what it means to be a female artist in this era.

The Female Gaze

We asked women at Watkins for their perspectives on what it means to be a female artist in this era. Read More

pARTners.
Explorations in collaboration

Watkins College of Art MFA Student working

Eye Opening

Designed by two artists, Watkins’s MFA in Visual Arts is allowing working men and women to discover, or rediscover, their callings as creatives.

Eye Opening

Designed by two artists, Watkins’s MFA in Visual Arts is allowing working men and women to discover, or rediscover, their callings as creatives.

Visit Campus

The best way to know if Watkins is right for you is to spend some time with us.

Now Screening.

Our latest videos

April 3, 2019

Open Studio: The Set-Up

Curator Robert Scobey discusses the Currey show that explores the role of screens in our culture.

April 3, 2019

Open Studio: Filmmakers Amanda Dillingham and Spenser Fritz

Amanda Dillingham and Spenser Fritz talk about their new feature film, Cecil.

April 3, 2019

Peek@ 23rd Annual Interior Design Showcase

A tour of the array of interior design projects from the 23rd Showcase.

February 4, 2019

The 1885 Scholarship Campaign

A look at Watkins's legacy from its founding in 1885.

My615:
Journey Into
America’s "It" City

Tourist

When parents and friends are in town, you may want to play the tourist (and that's fine!). Fortunately, Nashville delivers even when there's a crowd.

Nashville Shakespeare Festival

Artistic Director Denice Hicks explains why this grassroots company has become the summer destination for Nashvillians of every background.

The Cumberland River Greenway

Photographer Sam Angel introduces us to her favorite place in Nashville: a biking trail of golden light and industrial charm.

Art Student

There will be times when you need to resupply your toolkit and times when you'll want to be inspired by the works of others. We have both covered.

Insider

Sometimes, it takes a while to know a city. With our list, you don't have to wait. These are the cool places to have on your checklist.

Foodie

One reason Nashville has become the "It" City is its culinary excellence. We walk you through the high-end eateries and the cheap eats that feel just as decadent.

Parks/Nature

The color green has been shown to improve creativity. We give you the best spots to refresh your focus.

Porch overlooking the lake

“I love our back porch over the lake. I love to sit alone and bird watch, think, eat, read, and get some sun. These little breathers help me balance the hours of CAD work I do on my PC. I try to get up and get inspired every hour or two when I have a heavy day of computer drafting ahead of me.”

“I love our back porch over the lake. I love to sit alone and bird watch, think, eat, read, and get some sun. These little breathers help me bala...Read More

-Aimee Spencer

Butterfly garden

“I love to sit in the butterfly garden. It’s right by the lake, and I am surrounded by all kinds of flowers. It’s a great place for me to go on a warm day when I am stressed about a project.”

“I love to sit in the butterfly garden. It’s right by the lake, and I am surrounded by all kinds of flowers. It’s a great place for me to go ...Read More

-Natalie Miles

Printmaking studio

“The printmaking studio is where I feel most at home. It’s got everything you need and more to make a lot of kick-ass prints—as long as you know what you’re doing.”

“The printmaking studio is where I feel most at home. It’s got everything you need and more to make a lot of kick-ass prints—as long as y...Read More

-Chris Fornal

Zulema’s café

“Convenient and peaceful.”

-Tim Amerine

Alternative process lab

“My favorite space is the alternative process lab in the photo department. It is truly understated how unique  the alternative process class is to Watkins. I would say  I particularly love it because it combines photography and chemistry. This class puts the control  back into the hands of the artist in many ways.”

“My favorite space is the alternative process lab in the photo department. It is truly understated how unique  the alternative process class is...Read More

-Josh Ungurait

Silos

“Bright, airy, collaborative, and conducive to intense concentration, Watkins’s new silo studios give our seniors the most inspiring laboratories in which to work and grow. 24-7.”

“Bright, airy, collaborative, and conducive to intense concentration, Watkins’s new silo studios give our seniors the most inspiring labora...Read More

-President J. Kline

Reveal.

Ashley Doggett

“A History: A Scourge of  Anti-blackness and Self Hate, Courtesy of Master Leeroy"

Feelings of loneliness, desolation, as well as forced pageantry inflicted upon black female bodies became the root for this seminal piece. The black woman being used as a commodity and not having any physical or mental agency over herself due to the implications of slavery became a narrative to speak on the horrific aspects of American history. One’s sense of “self” being removed, this painting brings forth introspection on our relationship to ownership and sentience.

Feelings of loneliness, desolation, as well as forced pageantry inflicted upon black female bodies became the root for this seminal piece. The black w...Read More

Ashley Doggett

“A History: A Time for Tears"

In a moment of letting go, one should have time to grieve and have contempt for their grief, anguish, and internal pain. This painting divulges a purely cathartic experience, the purging and internal cleansing of one’s mental trauma. Mental trauma in this instance is a shared experience between two women of color, to display a sense of mutual understanding as well as isolated comfort.

In a moment of letting go, one should have time to grieve and have contempt for their grief, anguish, and internal pain. This painting divulges a pure...Read More

Ashley Doggett

“We Must Move Forward”

We can only assume that the child present in the drawing is a product of both post Antebellum slavery as well as segregation-era society. A clear picture is made to the stagnation around her. A young woman embroiled in a concoction of post-reconstruction ideologies surrounding gender roles and a woman’s “place,” and just like her “setting,” her past is as disorganized and messy as the world around her. It’s a world of a young woman trying to get onto her feet within the surroundings she is placed, assuring herself within the disarray and misanthropy. With dignity she dresses, ready to move forward.

We can only assume that the child present in the drawing is a product of both post Antebellum slavery as well as segregation-era society. A clear pict...Read More

Ashley Doggett

“A History: Mammy is Dead”

Reclaiming and using racial stereotypes of the black female body, this piece serves as a proclamation to deny that these ideologies still have a place in defining our bodies as well as identities. Mammy is proverbially “dead,” the racial stereotype worthless, paltry, as well as crude.

Reclaiming and using racial stereotypes of the black female body, this piece serves as a proclamation to deny that these ideologies still have a plac...Read More

Ashley Doggett

“A History: Gone in The Dusk of Time”

History in its most primordial forms has long interested me, especially the narratives of my ancestors that have been, through systemic racism, either erased or altered due to Southern revisionism. This painting serves as a reminder of these erased histories, the memory blanched out from our cultural conscience as well as its permanence in the midst of revisionism.

History in its most primordial forms has long interested me, especially the narratives of my ancestors that have been, through systemic racism, either...Read More

Give to Watkins

Breakthroughs begin here. Support where the creative economy begins.

Donate »

Pipeline.
Watkins in the world

The Marvelous Mr. Mallette

Working at the empire that is the Marvel universe has only made filmmaker Doug Mallette more dedicated to his indie path.

Doug Mallette, Watkins Alum and filmmaker

The Marvelous Mr. Mallette

Working at the empire that is the Marvel universe has only made filmmaker Doug Mallette more dedicated to his indie path. Read More

News.
Stay current with Watkins

Artist Chelsea Klukas to deliver commencement address

Ceremony will take place on May 18, 2019 at 10 a.m. at the college.

Artist Chelsea Klukas to deliver commencement address

Ceremony will take place on May 18, 2019 at 10 a.m. at the college.

What’s Ahead:
Next at Watkins

April 25 - May 1

Seek.

Dialogue.Failure, creative routines, guilty pleasures, advice

Apply

Monday Motivation.Wisdom from those who've been there.

Request Info

Work.

Unframed.Up close with the artists

Unframed.Up close with the artists

The Female Gaze

The Female Gaze

pARTners.Explorations in collaboration

pARTners.Explorations in collaboration

Eye Opening

Eye Opening

Visit Campus

Now Screening.

Open Studio: The Set-Up

Open Studio: Filmmakers Amanda Dillingham and Spenser Fritz

Peek@ 23rd Annual Interior Design Showcase

The 1885 Scholarship Campaign

Porch overlooking the lake

Butterfly garden

Printmaking studio

Zulema’s café

Alternative process lab

Silos

Reveal.

Gallery.Works to be aware of

Ashley Doggett

Ashley Doggett

Ashley Doggett

Ashley Doggett

Ashley Doggett

Give to Watkins

Pipeline.Watkins in the world

Pipeline.Watkins in the world

The Marvelous Mr. Mallette

The Marvelous Mr. Mallette

News.Stay current with Watkins

News.Stay current with Watkins

Artist Chelsea Klukas to deliver commencement address

Artist Chelsea Klukas to deliver commencement address