The Watkins College of Art invites the public to enjoy gallery exhibitions and related programming. A current list of Events & Exhibitions can be found here, and admission is always free.
Upcoming Events
Exhibition Schedule
Some Were Neighbors | Choice, Human Behavior, and The Holocaust
September 08 – December 08
Leu Gallery in the Lila D. Bunch Library
Some Were Neighbors explores the vast difference in the ways ordinary people displayed great courage or willful complicity in the face of devastating violence during the rise of Hitler’s Germany. Neighbors made choices. Some acted with bold courage, while others stood idle as friends, neighbors, and colleagues were victimized.
The main focus of the exhibit is to offer Holocaust remembrance and education for students, faculty and members of the greater Nashville community. The exhibition is centered around a set of 21 large posters, provided by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, that share the story of the Holocaust and the role various groups within a community played during the violence.
This exhibit is presented in partnership with the Reverend Charlie Curb Center for Faith Leadership and made possible through generous support from the Maria & Bernie A. Pargh Family Foundation.
Neighbors | Artists in Residence at Arcade Arts
August 20 – September 26
Closing Reception: September 25 from 4:30–6pm
Gallery 121 in the Leu Center for the Visual Arts
The inaugural group of Artists in Residence at Arcade Arts exemplifies the spirit of neighborliness in a rapidly evolving city—sharing physical space, creative energy, and a collective commitment to fostering a vibrant arts culture. Selected through a competitive application process, the twelve artists, ranging in age, background, and experience, have spent nine months working side-by-side in studios within the historic Nashville Arcade. Their diverse perspectives—shaped by long-term ties to the city or recent arrivals—converge in this exhibition, which reflects not only their individual growth but also the profound influence of collaboration, shared critique, and community engagement. It offers a compelling view into how artists shape and are shaped by one another, emphasizing the lasting impact of creative community across all stages of artistic development.
Exhibiting artists include Sarah Clinton, Katherine Frensley, Courtney Gatewood, Darrell Green, Emily Holt, Mandy Rogers Horton, Rod McGaha, Mike Mitchell, X Payne, Cesar Pita, and Taylor Walton.
Watkins Student Legacy Collection
August 20 – December 05
Leu Center for the Visual Arts Lobby
Now on view in the Leu Center for the Visual Arts, the Student Legacy Collection showcases a dynamic range of artwork created by students over the past 35 years. These pieces reflect the talent, dedication, and creative growth of those who have shaped our programs through the decades. Since the 2020 merger with Belmont University, the collection also serves as a testament to the shared identity and vision of our unified artistic community.
Upcoming Exhibitions
October 06 – 24
Reception: October 09 from 4:30-6pm
Gallery 121 in the Leu Center for the Visual Arts
Forging a Nation is an interactive storytelling exhibition organized by recent Experiential Design alum Madison Novak that explores the journey of Kosovo, Europe’s youngest country. Supported by the Lumos Travel Award, this exhibition is the result of a four-month immersion into the lives of Kosovars, capturing their resilience, identity, and hopes for the future. Through firsthand accounts and evolving technology, it invites audiences to engage with the voices of a country forging its place in the world.
November 03 – December 05
Reception: November 06 from 4:30-6pm
Gallery 121 in the Leu Center for the Visual Arts
Recent fine art alum Zoe Nichols, with the generous support of the Walter and Sarah Knestrick Award, has deepened her ongoing investigation into absence and light through an immersive personal experiment: 88 consecutive hours spent in total darkness. This exhibition reflects on this subtractive experience as a meditation on mortality, memory, and absence. Using biochar sculpture and installation, Nichols creates a space where absence becomes material, and the boundaries between internal and external become blurred.
January 07 – February 13
Reception: January 22 from 4:30-6pm
Gallery 121 in the Leu Center for the Visual Arts
Here / Now welcomes three new faculty members to the Watkins College of Art: Jack Lathom, Associate Professor of Photography; Lauren Lowen, Professor of Practice in Illustration; and LaKesha Lee, Faculty Fellow in Art. Introducing their distinct practices—ranging from lens-based inquiry to expressive illustration and ceramic work— this exhibit offers a glimpse into the creative voices newly rooted in our community. As artists and educators, their work reflects the various perspectives, passions, and pedagogies they bring to Watkins.
March 02 – April 03
Watkins Awards Gala: March 26 from 4:30-6pm
Gallery 121 and the Leu Center for the Visual Arts Lobby
The Watkins College of Art and Kappa Pi student organization presents the professionally juried Annual Student Exhibition. Join us in celebrating student success with a vibrant showcase of outstanding work from across all programs and levels of study!
April 13 – May 08
Watkins Design & Art Crawl: April 21 from 5-7pm
Gallery 121 in the Leu Center for the Visual Arts
The Watkins College of Art at Belmont University proudly presents its annual exhibition of Fine Art senior thesis projects, celebrating the creative achievements of graduating students. The exhibition culminates in a reception featuring the presentation of senior design portfolios.
The Watkins College of Art invites the community to enjoy exhibitions and related programming. All galleries are free and open to the public. Sign up to receive the monthly WCA Gallery Newsletter and stay up to date on the latest open programming. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Do you have questions about our galleries? Please reach out via email to Katie Mitchell, Director of Galleries & Programming.
Galleries
The Watkins College of Art operates four art galleries in Nashville that promote the exhibition of current student, faculty, alumni, and contemporary artists.