Seek.

Katherine Hansen

“Fully realized and flawless” is Katherine Hansen’s standard for her work; but that aesthetic plays another role, as well.

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

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

I have stood on a mountain of no’s for one yes.

B. Smith, entrepreneur

Request Info

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

The latest on social media

Jul 18, 2019

Have a question about our admissions process? Speak to one of our artists in Admissions; their experience as practicing artists can make the difference in reliable guidance as you contemplate your creative future. Their bios can be found here:

watkins.edu/admissions/how…

Jul 18, 2019

As her capstone project, interior design student Renee Johnson conceived and designed a space that guides visitors in search of their ancestry, then helps to inspire crafting pieces in their homes that reflect those discoveries. Our latest Open Studio:

https://vimeo.com/343313547

Jul 16, 2019

The urban landscape and the human one is Jessica Clay’s artistic obsession. Our latest Unframed: watkins.edu/unframed/the-a…

Work.

Unframed.
Up close with the artists

The Archaeologist

Unearthing unseen connections between the urban landscape and the human one is Jessica Clay’s artistic obsession.

The Archaeologist

Unearthing unseen connections between the urban landscape and the human one is Jessica Clay’s artistic obsession. 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

July 5, 2019

Open Studio: Renee Johnson, Interior Designer

Explore a space that guides visitors in search of their ancestry.

June 7, 2019

A Look at Commencement

We highlight the powerful speech given by artist Chelsea Klukas.

June 7, 2019

Lucas Hames, Watkins College of Art Filmmaker

Open Studio: Lucas Hames, Filmmaker

Lucas Hames delves into the "bystander" phenomenon.

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

Parks/Nature

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

Ladies, Wine & Design

Ladies, Wine & Design is a monthly gathering for professional women in design who seek connection, support, and engagement.

Bells Bend Park

Filmmaker Quinton Hickman heads here in Nashville to help him hone his "aesthetic of the sublime."

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.

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.

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.

Spaces.

Favorite (and secret)
spots on campus.

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.

David Onri Anderson

Reciprocity, acrylic and graphite on canvas, 2018

After reading Braiding Sweetgrass by Native American scientist and poet, Robin Wall Kimmerer, I was compelled to respond to her wisdom and advice of listening to our Earth and reciprocating with gifts, practices, and responsibilities. I took notes on a canvas as a sort of underpainting of themes and thoughts, which later led to a small central image of a tree branch with leaves on a piece of notebook paper surrounded by a yellow brushy glow.

After reading Braiding Sweetgrass by Native American scientist and poet, Robin Wall Kimmerer, I was compelled to respond to her wisdom and advice of l...Read More

David Onri Anderson

Ancient ESP, acrylic and graphite on raw canvas, 2018

Living in Nashville my whole life, I've come to really appreciate this region where trees are abundant and mostly dominant. So with my painting practice, and my life as an organic being, I give my praise and homage to the great trees who provide for us many natural elements that we so often take for granted. Trees are our ancient elders that have taught us all we know from the beginning of time. This painting shows an inner vision of communication and energy sharing within an evergreen tree that circulates into the surrounding borders and back into the tree form.

Living in Nashville my whole life, I've come to really appreciate this region where trees are abundant and mostly dominant. So with my painting practi...Read More

David Onri Anderson

Daylight Vision Paper Lantern, acrylic and graphite on raw canvas, 2018

Absorbing the visions that come without effort, the paper sits in the sunlight, becomes colored by the changing time, expresses everything by remaining nothing. This is a painting that seeks to expound upon the emptiness of a paper lantern and the fullness it can become through its peaceful existence with surrounding energies.

Absorbing the visions that come without effort, the paper sits in the sunlight, becomes colored by the changing time, expresses everything by remainin...Read More

David Onri Anderson

Split and Reborn, acrylic and graphite on canvas, 2018

In the wintertime when the sun is scarce and feelings of loneliness and darkness creep in, I wanted to make something that would warm me up internally as well as take on these dreams of mortality, love, and sorrow. I began to paint candles in different forms and with different relationships to each other's flames, wax, and wicks. This painting shows a process of birthing, splitting, and rebirthing, a cycle of incarnations.

In the wintertime when the sun is scarce and feelings of loneliness and darkness creep in, I wanted to make something that would warm me up internally...Read More

Give to Watkins

Breakthroughs begin here. Support where the creative economy begins.

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Pipeline.
Watkins in the world

Braving the Greys

Cole Bankston wasn’t prepared for the complexity of an artwork that explored abuse, murder, and capital punishment. But that complexity created the artist in him.

Cole Bankston, film maker, Loser by Birth

Braving the Greys

Cole Bankston wasn’t prepared for the complexity of an artwork that explored abuse, murder, and capital punishment. But that complexity created the artist in him. Read More

News.
Stay current with Watkins

Artist and Teacher Tyler Jacobsen Passes Away

His family launches a generous scholarship fund to support emerging artists.

Artist and Teacher Tyler Jacobsen Passes Away

His family launches a generous scholarship fund to support emerging artists.

What’s Ahead:
Next at Watkins

Don't Slam the Door, Kristi Hargrove, Watkins Professor

June 13 - August 29

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 Archaeologist

The Archaeologist

pARTners.Explorations in collaboration

pARTners.Explorations in collaboration

Eye Opening

Eye Opening

Visit Campus

Now Screening.

Open Studio: Renee Johnson, Interior Designer

A Look at Commencement

Open Studio: Lucas Hames, Filmmaker

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

David Onri Anderson

David Onri Anderson

David Onri Anderson

David Onri Anderson

Give to Watkins

Pipeline.Watkins in the world

Pipeline.Watkins in the world

Braving the Greys

Braving the Greys

News.Stay current with Watkins

News.Stay current with Watkins

Artist and Teacher Tyler Jacobsen Passes Away

Artist and Teacher Tyler Jacobsen Passes Away