Seek.

Natalie Briscoe

For Natalie Briscoe, the most underrated virtue is often (wrongly) perceived as a weakness.

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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.

The No. 1 predictor of impact is productivity.

Dean Keith Simonton, psychologist

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

The latest on social media

Sep 20, 2019

Current artist at David Lusk: Watkins alum Ashley Doggett. Next artist at David Lusk: Watkins alum David Onri Anderson. Read the article and/or watch the video:
watkins.edu/pipeline/cella…; vimeo.com/236581164

Sep 20, 2019

The vibrant, formidable work of Chicago-based Shelby Rodeffer:

https://www.watkins.edu/pipeline/sign-of-the-times/

Sep 19, 2019

Sculpture crit discussing Rosemary Solomon’s piece with newly added Professor Moses Williams.

Work.

Unframed.
Up close with the artists

Restless and Sophisticated

Matt Christy’s recent show drew praise for the artist who, according to his former professor, is fulfilling what good painting is.

Restless and Sophisticated

Matt Christy’s recent show drew praise for the artist who, according to his former professor, is fulfilling what good painting is. 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 26, 2019

Peek: 2019 Community Education Exhibit

Get a glimpse of the work of teaching artists and students.

July 26, 2019

Open Studio: Josh Wynters

Josh Wynters and his striking cinematic work in "Dreams of Snow and Teeth"

July 26, 2019

2019 Commencement Address

Listen to 2019 Commencement speaker Chelsea Klukas

July 5, 2019

Open Studio: Renee Johnson, Interior Designer

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

My615:
Journey Into
America’s "It" City

My615, Watkins College of Art, Nashville

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.

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.

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.

Parks/Nature

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

Spaces.

Favorite (and secret)
spots on campus.

Library

“The library is my safe place. It has everything I need—books and coffee.”

-Micaela Herrera

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

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

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.

Donate »

Pipeline.
Watkins in the world

Sign of the Times

Shelby Rodeffer’s bespoke sign-making is growing in success and demand, and launching a new artisanal wave.

Shelby Rodeffer, Illustrator, Watkins College of Art

Sign of the Times

Shelby Rodeffer’s bespoke sign-making is growing in success and demand, and launching a new artisanal wave. Read More

News.
Stay current with Watkins

Watkins Partners with RaiseMe for Student Scholarships

The innovative program allows high school students to build financial support prior to matriculation.

Watkins Partners with RaiseMe for Student Scholarships

The innovative program allows high school students to build financial support prior to matriculation.

What’s Ahead:
Next at Watkins

Hatch Print Shop, photo by CK Photo and courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

September 12 - October 10

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

Restless and Sophisticated

Restless and Sophisticated

pARTners.Explorations in collaboration

pARTners.Explorations in collaboration

Eye Opening

Eye Opening

Visit Campus

Now Screening.

Peek: 2019 Community Education Exhibit

Open Studio: Josh Wynters

2019 Commencement Address

Open Studio: Renee Johnson, Interior Designer

Library

Silos

Porch Overlooking the Lake

Butterfly Garden

Printmaking Studio

Zulema’s Café

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

Sign of the Times

Sign of the Times

News.Stay current with Watkins

News.Stay current with Watkins

Watkins Partners with RaiseMe for Student Scholarships

Watkins Partners with RaiseMe for Student Scholarships