Selections from Cheekwood’s Permanent Collection Take a Turn in the Spotlight

Sculpture, Paintings and Porcelain on View

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Paintings, sculpture, prints, and decorative arts from the permanent collection at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens take center stage throughout the second-floor galleries in the Historic Cheekwood Mansion & Museum.

Each gallery highlights a different sub-category of the collection including American painting, 20th-century sculpture by William Edmondson and Worcester Porcelain.

With the re-contextualization of the collection, Cheekwood takes the opportunity to display works that have been in storage for a prolonged period.

“We are excited to share more fine art and decorative arts from our permanent collection with visitors and our community,” says Sarah Sperling, Cheekwood Vice President of Museum Affairs. “It is the first time since our major exhibition of William Edmondson in 2021 that we have the opportunity to display a large quantity of his work at one time. The sculptures are treasures, and we are proud to display them along with many other exceptional works from our permanent collection.”

In the American Portraiture gallery, visitors can view paintings ranging from the 1790s to 1930s, from three-inch-tall portrait miniatures to a large family portrait. Other galleries feature American landscape painting, American Impressionism, and paintings by notable Tennessee artists such as George Inness, Childe Hassam, and Gilbert Gaul.

In addition, the Worcester Porcelain gallery features fine examples of English porcelain from the Ewers-Tyne collection. The history of Worcester comes to life as the objects in the room illustrate a variety of patterns and styles for the factory’s rich history.

William Edmondson

Upon entry into the galleries, guests will encounter limestone sculptures of animals and human figures created by Nashville native William Edmondson. Edmondson was a notable sculptor active in Nashville during the 1930s and ‘40s and today is considered one of the most important self-taught American artists of the 20th century. His keen attention to detail mixed with whimsical qualities bring each of the limestone pieces to life. Cheekwood is proud to have the largest collection of Edmondson’s work among
public institutions in the U.S. with the majority of his sculptures in the permanent collection now on display.

Wonder Women: Women Printmakers of the 1970s

This exhibition features prints created in the 1970s by women who advocated for themselves and their work in a male-dominated field. Having entered the workforce on the heels of second-wave feminism, these women were uniquely situated to fight for equality and visibility in their field. The exhibition features 19 works on paper drawn from Cheekwood’s permanent collection, including a print titled Women’s Equality by Marisol Escobar and the 10-piece Chinatown Suite series created by Chryssa Vardea. Other featured artists include Helen Frankenthaler, Louise Nevelson, Alima Rita, Liliane Lijn and Linda Plotkin.

Ticket Information

Selections from Cheekwood’s Permanent Collection and Wonder Women: Women Printmakers of the 1970s can be viewed in the Historic Mansion & Museum from July 27 until November 4. Admission to the Mansion is free for Cheekwood members while not-yet members will need to purchase a Gardens and Mansion ticket for entry. Tickets can be reserved at Cheekwood.org.

About Cheekwood Estate & Gardens
With its intact and picturesque vistas, Cheekwood is distinguished as one of the leading Country Place Era estates in the nation. Formerly the family home of Mabel and Leslie Cheek, the 1930s estate, with its 30,000-square-foot Mansion and 55-acres of gardens, today serves the public as a botanical garden, arboretum, and art museum with furnished period rooms and galleries devoted to American art from the 18th to mid-20th centuries. The property includes 13 distinct gardens including the Blevins Japanese Garden and the Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden, as well as a 1.5-mile woodland trail featuring outdoor monumental sculpture. Each year, Cheekwood hosts seasonal festivals including Cheekwood in Bloom, Summertime at Cheekwood, Cheekwood Harvest and Holiday LIGHTS. Cheekwood is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and nationally as a Level II Arboretum. It is a three-time voted USA Today Top 10 Botanical Garden, in 2024
received a Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award, and in 2021 was named by Fodors as one of the 12 Most Beautiful Gardens in the American South. Cheekwood is located eight miles southwest of downtown Nashville at 1200 Forrest Park Drive. It is open Tuesday through Sunday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., with extended days and hours of operation depending on the season. Visit cheekwood.org for current hours and to purchase advance tickets required for admission.