The Fragile Species: New Art Nashville includes paintings, photographs, sculptures, and video art by 20 artists from the Nashville area whose contemplations on human frailty range from the whimsical and ironic to the poignant and elegiac. Whether in works that allude to the fleeting nature of life, childhood vulnerability, aging, illness and trauma or emotional struggle, the artists in the exhibition convey the pain and resilience of the human experience with empathy, beauty, and power.

Throughout the run of the exhibition, you have the opportunity to hear the artists speak about their work during a weekly program entitled "Conversations with Contemporary Artists." Click here for a complete schedule.

Listen in on the Frist Center's first podcast as Frist curator Mark Scala, joined by docents Jay Turman and Mancil Ezell, discusses this exhibition.

Artists featured in the exhibition include:

Michelle Anderson
Kristina Arnold
Michael Baggarly
Patrick DeGuira
Kathryn Dettwiller
Kristi Hargrove
Erin Hewgley
Emily Holt
Mark Hosford
Andrew Kaufman
Carol Mode
Adrienne Outlaw
Lesley Patterson-Marx
Billy Renkl
Julie Roberts
Jack Dingo Ryan
Chris Scarborough
Victor Simmons
Tom Thayer
Barbara Yontz
Lain York

Contributing Sponsor: 


Image credit: Mark Hosford, The Departure, 2003. Screen print, 14 x 18 in. Courtesy of the artist