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?

Start the application process »

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

At first I wasn't sure that I had the talent, but I did know I had a fear of failure, and that fear compelled me to fight off anything that might abet it.

Gordon Parks, filmmaker

Request Info

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

The latest on social media

Mar 15, 2019

Congratulations! Here are our winners from last nights juried student exhibition:

Ruby Denton, Honorable Mention
Dawn Fos, Honorable Mention
Justin Kubasti, Honorable Mention
Hailey Alexander, 3rd Place
Abraham Lara, 2nd Place
Abbey Cox, 1st Place
Rosemary Solomon, Anny Gowa Purchase Award 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

Mar 15, 2019

Why imagine art school when you can experience it now? If you're a rising sophomore, junior, or senior in high school, and driven to create, think about our summer pre-college program, Launch: watkins.edu/admissions/pre…

Mar 15, 2019

Did you miss The Set-Up, the recent Currey Gallery show curated by artist-professor Robert Scobey? We looked in on it for our latest Open Studio:

https://vimeo.com/324212499

Work.

Unframed.
Up close with the artists

The Journeywoman

Amy Kinssies had a crisis of confidence about becoming an interior designer, but there's something else about confidence that scares her more.

The Journeywoman

Amy Kinssies had a crisis of confidence about becoming an interior designer, but there's something else about confidence that scares her more. See More

pARTners.
Explorations in collaboration

Poster Boys

An upscale Nashville hotel benefits from a down-home collaboration between Watkins’s graphic design chair Dan Brawner and artist Bryce McCloud.

Poster Boys

An upscale Nashville hotel benefits from a down-home collaboration between Watkins’s graphic design chair Dan Brawner and artist Bryce McCloud.

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

February 4, 2019

The 1885 Scholarship Campaign

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

February 4, 2019

Open Studio: Ashley Henry, Filmmaker

Filmmaker Ashley Henry chats about her new, unsettling short, Sirens.

February 4, 2019

Open Studio: Filmmaker Mack Hoskins

Filmmaker Mack Hoskins on going darker with the musical.

January 11, 2019

Open Studio: Angel Venice Iwanowski and Chelsea Kaiah James

#MeToo and Native American identity are the subjects of this senior show.

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.

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.

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.

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

Library

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

-Micaela Herrera

Reveal.

Jason Hassell

July 2018

16mm film
I have as far as I can remember wanted to shoot on film. There is something so special and satisfying in pressing record and hearing the celluloid inside. It gives a whole new feeling and mood to filmmaking as a whole. The anticipation of waiting to get your film back to see how you did it is a remarkable experience. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

16mm film
I have as far as I can remember wanted to shoot on film. There is something so special and satisfying in pressing record and hearing ...Read More

Jason Hassell

Sin Nor Virtue, directed by Aaron Scott

December 2017/ digital film
On Sin Nor Virtue, we were inspired by old paintings and photographs from the early 1800s and 1900s to shoot this historical drama. The drama relies on rich darks and moody atmospherics to heighten the emotional tension within the familial/tribal narrative.

December 2017/ digital film
On Sin Nor Virtue, we were inspired by old paintings and photographs from the early 1800s and 1900s to sh...Read More

Jason Hassell

Sin Nor Virtue, directed by Aaron Scott

December 2017/ digital film
We learned from still images to create those atmospherics so the viewer felt enveloped and transported.

December 2017/ digital film
We learned from still images to create those atmospherics so the viewer felt enveloped and transported....Read More

Jason Hassell

Preparation

Medium format film/photography
November 2017
As a cinematographer, I have always just worked with the digital medium, but I wanted to step out of my comfort zone. I started working with medium format photography to prepare me to shoot motion picture film, to see things differently and inform my cinematic eye, and I fell in love with the style.

Medium format film/photography
November 2017
As a cinematographer, I have always just worked with the digital medium, but I wanted t...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

Glimpse set for March 30

Find out who the 2019 Glimpse artists will be at our Warhol-inspired, Watkins-approved spring fling

Glimpse set for March 30

Find out who the 2019 Glimpse artists will be at our Warhol-inspired, Watkins-approved spring fling

What’s Ahead:
Next at Watkins

March 30

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 Journeywoman

The Journeywoman

pARTners.Explorations in collaboration

pARTners.Explorations in collaboration

Poster Boys

Poster Boys

Visit Campus

Now Screening.

The 1885 Scholarship Campaign

Open Studio: Ashley Henry, Filmmaker

Open Studio: Filmmaker Mack Hoskins

Open Studio: Angel Venice Iwanowski and Chelsea Kaiah James

Butterfly garden

Printmaking studio

Zulema’s café

Alternative process lab

Silos

Library

Reveal.

Gallery.Works to be aware of

Jason Hassell

Jason Hassell

Jason Hassell

Jason Hassell

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

Glimpse set for March 30

Glimpse set for March 30

Dialogue.
Failure, creative routines, guilty pleasures, advice

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