Cheekwood Presents INTERVENTIONS: Shawn Huckins

Exhibition Features Seven Paintings with a Playful, Contemporary Twist

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Cheekwood Estate & Gardens names Shawn Huckins, an American painter best known for his fusion of technical skill and satirical wit, as the 2025 INTERVENTIONS artist. An exhibition featuring his work will be on view from August 30 – October 26, 2025.

INTERVENTIONS launched in 2021 as an arts initiative to activate the historic period rooms and invite artists to seek inspiration from the Cheek family. The series features renowned artists from around the globe who imagine and implement a connection between their contemporary work and the fine and decorative arts within the Cheek Mansion.

“We are excited to bring Shawn Huckins’ work to Cheekwood and to the Nashville community,” said Sarah Sperling, Cheekwood Senior Vice President of External Relations and Museum Affairs. “He is a talented artist who has put a fascinating spin on the paintings he created for this exhibition by reinterpreting and taking inspiration from the fine art within the period rooms.”

“Inspired by Cheekwood’s own art collection and their 55-acre botanical garden, I’m excited to bring my contemporary voice to the museum walls while honoring their rich history,” said Huckins. “Guests can expect a unique fusion of modern creativity and timeless elegance, where each piece invites reflection and dialogue, bridging past and present in an immersive, thought-provoking experience.”

Huckins’ paintings recreate traditional landscape, still life and portrait paintings with the addition of painted textiles and fabric to showcase his appreciation of history while examining and challenging contemporary culture. The installation will consist of seven paintings within the Mansion’s period rooms inspired by works from Cheekwood’s permanent collection and the surrounding landscape.

Huckins is represented by numerous galleries across the globe including Duran Contemporain of Montreal, Galerie Bessiéres in France, Richard Heller Gallery of Santa Monica and K Contemporary of Denver. His work has been displayed in private and public collections across the country, including The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, The Tucson Museum of Art, The TIA Collection, and The Vicki Myhren Gallery at The University of Denver.

The INTERVENTIONS program at Cheekwood is made possible by the Sandra Schatten Foundation. To learn more about current and upcoming exhibitions, ticketing and other information, visit 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.