Frist Art Museum

Art museum · Downtown

Frist Art Museum

Art museum · Downtown

5

919 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

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Frist Art Museum by Google
Frist Art Museum by Google
Frist Art Museum by Google
Frist Art Museum by Google
Frist Art Museum by Google
Frist Art Museum by Google
Frist Art Museum by Google
Frist Art Museum by Google
Frist Art Museum by Google
Frist Art Museum by Google
Frist Art Museum by Google
Frist Art Museum by Google
Frist Art Museum by Google
Frist Art Museum by Google
Frist Art Museum by Google
Frist Art Museum by Google
Frist Art Museum by Google
Frist Art Museum by Google
Frist Art Museum by Google
Frist Art Museum by Google
Frist Art Museum by Yelp
Frist Art Museum by Yelp
Frist Art Museum by Yelp
Frist Art Museum by Yelp
Frist Art Museum by Yelp
Frist Art Museum by Yelp
Frist Art Museum by Yelp
Frist Art Museum by Yelp
Frist Art Museum by Yelp
Frist Art Museum by Yelp
Frist Art Museum by Yelp
Frist Art Museum by Yelp
Frist Art Museum by Yelp
Frist Art Museum by Yelp
Frist Art Museum by Yelp
Frist Art Museum by Yelp
Frist Art Museum by Yelp
Frist Art Museum by Yelp
Frist Art Museum by Yelp
Frist Art Museum by Yelp
Frist Art Museum by Yelp
Frist Art Museum by Yelp

Highlights

Nestled in a classic art deco gem, this museum features dynamic exhibits, engaging activities for all ages, and a delightful café scene.  

Featured in Conde Nast Traveler
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919 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203 Get directions

fristartmuseum.org
@fristartmuseum

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919 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203 Get directions

+1 615 244 3340
fristartmuseum.org
@fristartmuseum
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@fristartmuseum

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Feb 19, 2025

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@cntraveler

"Nashville had a dearth of art museums, but the Frist—which opened in 2001 in a stately Art Deco building that was once the city's main post office—helped fill that void. The art museum has no permanent collection, so you never know what will be on view—and that's why locals love it. The exhibits run the gamut, from vintage automobiles to Japanese art to relics from the Houghton Hall country estate in England . Each one is thoughtfully laid out in a well-illuminated gallery space and there's also a free music show, Music at the Frist, about once a month." - Margaret Littman

The 15 Best Things to Do in Nashville, From Backstage Tours to Art Museums | Condé Nast Traveler
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@cntraveler

"Zoom out. What’s this place about? Nashville had a dearth of art museums, but the Frist—which opened in 2001 in a stately Art Deco building that was once the city's main post office—helped fill that void. What will we find here? The exhibits may come and go, and run the gamut, from vintage automobiles to Japanese art to relics from the Houghton Hall country estate in England. Each one is thoughtfully laid out in a well-illuminated gallery space and there's also a free music show, Music at the Frist, in the café about once a month. What did you make of the crowd? Many locals are members, particularly the wealthy set in Belle Meade. Expect millennials and families during the opening weekend of any new exhibit. The museum is kid friendly, too, thanks to the Martin ArtQuest Gallery, an interactive space that allows children (and their parents) to explore different mediums with the help of art educators. On the practical tip, how easy is it to navigate? Benches are sparse but can be found in every couple of rooms. There are ramps and accessible parking spaces in the lot behind the building. On the first Saturday of each month, certified American Sign Language interpreters are provided for select tours. The Frist can also provide assistance to those with hearing impairments if given advance notice. Any guided tours worth trying? The majority of Frist-goers explore on their own, but there are a few tour options available, including: weekday docent-led tours, an audio tour available anytime for an additional $3, and a weekly architecture tour every Saturday at 4:30 p.m. to explore the building's origins. Gift shop: What do they have? The gift shop is full of bold, chunky handmade jewelry, Nashville bric-a-brac, and coffee table art books. There's also a kids' section with books, stuffed animals and trinkets. Is there somewhere to stop and eat or should we just plan on going elsewhere? While the café is undergoing renovations, it's vending machines only for visitors. Any advice for the time- or attention-challenged? The Frist's collection is so well-curated that you can see all the highlights within an hour." - Kristin Luna

Frist Center for the Visual Arts – Museum Review | Condé Nast Traveler
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@afar

"Since opening in 2001, the Frist Art Museum has hosted an inspiring—and continuous—slate of exhibitions from both nearby and around the world in its Art Deco digs. Visit on a Thursday or Friday night to catch “Music at the Frist,” when a wide range of musicians perform live in the museum café. The shows are free to attend with the purchase of admission."

12 Must-Do Experiences in Nashville
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@goop

"The Frist has an entire gallery—the Martin ArtQuest Gallery—devoted to art activities where children can come by every day between 10 and 5:30 and on Sunday starting at 1 p.m. There are thirty decked-out stations set up for kids to experiment with different media including drawing, sculpting, printmaking, and even filmmaking with toy dinosaurs, plastic animals, and big toy spiders. For everyone else, there’s an encyclopedic lineup of rotating exhibitions from all over the world, as well as the recently renovated Martin ArtQuest Gallery, with interactive artmaking stations, some of which are inspired by the museum’s current exhibitions. Children (and adults) can experiment with different media including painting, printmaking, and animation. Bonus: Children under eighteen can visit for free."

The Nashville Guide
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@heremag

"The Frist Art Museum opened in 2001, and since that time has hosted an array of art from the region and around the world—everything from Nashville Press photography taken during the Civil Rights Movement to Impressionist masters."

How to Spend a Long Weekend in Nashville, Tennessee
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Lori Trojak

Google
What a wonderful gem of a place! The guides are so knowledgeable and excited to be there. The exhibits change and are always thought provoking giving us reason to go back often. The food is one of best I've experienced at a museum with a fun and different menu. Check out the photo of a tea pour over. Didn't expect the production but it was fun! Great place to wander with a date, your family or simply alone!

visiting Places

Google
I give 4 stars because to park was very busy and I end parking in other parking lot close by and cost me $54. Plus to get the tickets $20 just for 2 exhibitions. Was nice the Japan manga exhibit, more for the kids with interesting activities and the installations with the ironing tables. The shop is very expensive, even a simple sticker is like $10. The traffic area in downtown is ridiculous.

Ashley Wang

Google
Smaller museum, but manageable and allows you to really absorb each exhibit. Went on a Sunday afternoon and there were other visitors but not at all overwhelmed by crowd. The true star of this museum for me was the children’s area (and I was a 31 year old traveling solo) - the interactive portions were highly engaging and thoughtful for all ages. Would go back!

Keeghan Norris

Google
This art museum is wonderful!! My partner and I visited for the Japanese exhibit. Very interesting, as were the other galleries. The cafe had great tea! The blueberry merlot iced tea was wonderful and it was fun to pour it over ice yourself. This was a super great visit, highly recommend visiting while you’re in Nashville!

Jessica Solich

Google
It was a different experience for sure, the art was different and I learned about some of the artists. On the second level there were items to hold and touch which was pretty amazing and the staff of volunteers are so awesome. There's something for everyone to enjoy

Mike Wazermacalit

Google
Beautiful exhibits but it was a very small museum. They offered Blue Star so we got in for free during the summer. The craft area was fun, however besides the McQueen museum we didn't have a lot to do so I don't know if I would go if it was full priced tickets.

sophia (linktr.ee/seisenbart)

Google
The exhibition we saw was incredible. I absolutely love it here and the upstairs room with activities is so much fun ❤️✨ I really want to be a member this year so I can keep going.

Chris M

Google
A small gallery but one worth visiting just for the architecture. The show changes regularly right now it is prints and they're interesting. I spent about an hour I think it was less than 20 so worth the price. The volunteers would love to talk to you about the building.

Trinity P.

Yelp
This is a neat spot if you're studying art or learning about art, or if you just would like to do something. The installations are super nice, especially the interactive ones. The ones that aren't are also really beautiful. There were signs and other stuff to explain the representation and meaning of the art and that was helpful. Going on about meaning, they also have little books with pens you can write in after each gallery. It's about how the art here impacts how you see the world and asks you that. The staff here are also mighty kind! They are real helpful and awesome. Sweet art museum. I would go here again if I had the chance to.

Lucia P.

Yelp
I really enjoyed my visit to the Frist Art Museum in Nashville, TN. While it's a small museum with only a few exhibitions, the space is really used up well to display art in an interactive and engaging way. The museum is inside an old Art Deco post office so that in itself is an experience! Really loved my time here!

Rochelle M.

Yelp
My daughter has wanted to come to Frist since moving to Nashville. The 'Journey through Japan' exhibit was perfect timing for our visit during the Thanksgiving holiday. What a lovely museum! It was busy during our visit, but the open layout of the exhibits allowed for enough space between visitors to enjoy the installations. Although we specifically came for 'Journey through Japan', we found ourselves spending just as much time in the 'María Magdalena Campos-Pons' and 'LaJuné McMillian' exhibits. My son and daughter spent a lot of time in Martin Art Quest. This was the busiest space since it was interactive with several fun, creative activities for all ages. The museum is not large, but enough for about 2 hours of thoughtful viewing. I found myself admiring the architectural details of the building as it used to be an old post office. There's enough seating to take short breaks. Restrooms are very clean. Parking is nearby but fills up quickly.

Jason M.

Yelp
Whenever I travel, I like taking in a museum to absorb some culture and check out things that the city may or not be known for. Art museums are not the first thing I think of when Nashville comes to mind, but I was walking from Music Row back to my hotel and noticed Frist. Since I had a loose itinerary, I thought it would be a good idea to check it out - so off I went. Frist covers a large area - part of it faces Broadway and another part faces Demonbreun St close to the Country Music HoF. Walking in I was immediately greeted by aesthetics; I think the building used to be a post office and the interiors are dripping in Art Deco - it made for a really nice backdrop. Admission is normally $15, but I was told because there were only two exhibits were on display they reduced the price to $13. The museum takes up to floors - the first floor houses the box office, gift shop, and both of the exhibits currently on display. The second floor has an interactive area which looks like it suited for children plus room for another exhibit that was closed off. The two exhibits on display were the works of LaJune McMillian and the works/life history of Maria Magdalena Capos Pons, though the latter dominated the exhibit space; I would say that 75% of the first floor was Campos Pons and the other 25% was McMillian. I think I spent about an hour or so in the museum (going at my usual museum pace); I thought the exhibits on display were thoughtful but even at full operation there is not much to see here. The building looks huge from the exterior so I was surprised that there was so little inside. Overall, Frist was fine; it's not a strong museum IMO, but if you're looking for something other than a bar to visit while downtown it's an option.

Nicole S.

Yelp
If you have children, a visit to the Frist Art Museum is a good idea if you're in Nashville and looking for something unique to do indoors. This museum has a wonderful kids' area (The MAQ, or Martin Art Quest) on the second floor. It's a dedicated space just for children and their families to explore art and science concepts. You'll find lots of hands-on activities and invitations to create your own art. When I visited, there were children and adults drawing, painting, creating photo collages, playing with a huge Lite Brite on the wall, and building towers with blocks. You could spend quite a while here with children, just visiting the different stations. The rest of the museum is nice, but keep in mind that it is very small! I walked through it in about 30 minutes. The Frist is two levels: the second floor is for the MAQ and whatever exhibit is featured. The first floor has some artwork in the hallways, but it's mostly the gift shop, restrooms and lobby. But what a beautiful lobby it is! Before this building became the site of the Frist Art Museum, it was a post office. If you walk around the first floor, you can see little art deco details of the post office this used to be. It's really neat that they kept so much of the soul of the building.

Zach S.

Yelp
The Frist is a non-collecting museum with rotating exhibitions from some of the most prestigious collections in the world. I have visited the Frist now three times, and have been pleased upon each visit. Most recently, I attended the Monuments and Myths exhibit featuring the works of French and Gaudens. Their other main gallery downstairs was closed for installation; however, the upcoming exhibit looks really cool. I will have to come back to visit upon opening. Upon arriving, parking is not free. I think it usually runs for $10/hour; however, with a Membership voucher, it is $2/hour. I checked in at the Membership desk and showed my card. I was able to get checked in, received my parking validation, and sticker pass to the exhibit. The museum gallery is housed within an old 1934 post office. The lobby is adorned with art deco accents and a sleek modern design. The gallery utilizes the original two-by-four pine floors, which are very unique to this space. In addition to the rotating exhibitions, The Frist also houses ArtQuest which is an interactive exhibit for guests of all ages to explore their own artistic skills. The main floor also has a Gift shop ranging from handmade jewelry, postcards, mugs, decor, and toys. Overall, the Frist is such a treat to have in Nashville. It is exciting to have the opportunity to see so many great works from prestigious artists in our town. I decided to get a student membership and will be back soon!

Brittani M.

Yelp
I love this museum! I always find myself there to see certain exhibits multiple times. My most recent favorite has been the Alexander McQueen exhibit. As a fashion lover, this exhibit felt like going to school! As I walked through, I was able to look on VogueRunway and see when each piece debuted! The gift shop is always a treat as well!

A T.

Yelp
Huge fan of Alexander McQueen. Being able to see his collection in person will inspire you to mix different fabrics and textures with your own style . The Chicano graphic art was also being showcased . Its rich vitality and complex life in the US is expressed in posters and prints . To reflect their culture and advocate for equal justice. Staff were very welcoming. Hands on activities for all ages . Over all great experience . Go check it out !

Daviyion J.

Yelp
Was in town for a conference and had some time to kill, so stopped into the museum to see what they had to offer. At the time they had a very cool exhibit from Beatrix Potter, which was awesome and brought back lots to childhood memories. And they had a very cool Afrofuturism mini exhibit. Also, really enjoyed the student art exhibit. It looked like they were in the process of setting up the next incoming exhibit so a big section was closed off at the time, but the museum itself for what I saw was a nice space there in Nashville. Probably only need about 1 1/2 hours tops to see the whole thing right now, but that could look different with the other exhibit space being open.

David C.

Yelp
A decent and not particularly noteworthy museum upon its own merits from an exhibition point of view, except.. It is highly organized and the staff are incredibly professional, with a great level of courtesy, respect, friendliness, and knowledge, which they willingly offer. Likewise, the depth of explanations provided within the exhibits is quite refreshing and helpful to understand what you are seeing. My only quibbles are that there was not a lot to see when I visited, and that the diversity of art was not particularly compelling. What they did well, however, was done well. Also great location if you are staying in downtown Nashville.

Dustin H.

Yelp
I recently went to the Frist with some friends and we really enjoyed the Beatrix Potter and the Jeffrey Gibson: The Body Electric exhibits, both of which were fantastic. There was also a very cool exhibit of local student art in the hallways leading into the main Frist entrances. I've been in the past for other exhibits, and it's always good to make a stop here. The staff are friendly, parking with a purchased museum ticket is practically free, and it's always clean and inviting here. The entry fee is fair as well (usually $15 per person). Docent tours of the exhibits are limited, from what I can tell only available at 1 pm most days. Other than that, no real criticisms to offer. It's not a huge space, so a tour of all current exhibits will take the average attendee around an hour or two at most.

Idalmi C.

Yelp
The Rendezvous McQueen was amazing and the Revolution exhibit as well. It was worth going .

Zach F.

Yelp
Disappointing. Whatever was on the walls, it was not art. The way wokeness and negativity has infiltrated the art scene at the Frist is extremely disappointing. Setting aside the uncomfortable woke messaging, nothing was actually pretty. Don't waste your time.

Nathan D.

Yelp
2 story art museum in Nashville , featuring art from historical periods all the way up to contemporary. What I really like is that half of the 2nd floor is an activity center that features art making stations that will fully engage everyone no mater the age demo. I think I spent as much time there as I spent in the rest of the museum.. and I only did less than half of the stations that were up there. The museum is easy to navigate and definitely features interesting and quality works. Very glad I decided to go check it out.

Al B.

Yelp
Very well kept building, the building history is cool within its self. Facility is clean, parking is easy and $2 if you get your ticket validated. Museum was $15. It was smaller than I expected but the 3 exhibits I went to were well done. The children's area doesn't interfere or get to loud you can't enjoy the experience. Nice museum to visit, staff is very friendly.

John B.

Yelp
The historic building looks quite majestic, but I wasn't entirely convinced with how it was utilized. Large parts of it were not open (seemingly a common problem based on the other reviews). The ticket price they charged was a tad lower than advertised (perhaps for that reason?), but when one considers that many of the hallway exhibits were free of charge, the actual paid exhibition amounted to only a couple of rooms on the top floor. The exhibit there didn't really wow me. These things change, of course, but what I saw was some very abstract work that had a ton of narration and video companion pieces you could pull up on your phone and a tour guide explaining the art, and maybe that's meant to be modern, but I just didn't get much out of the art itself. Good art might have context worth explaining, but it ought to stand on its own. I will say that the hallway had a lot of pieces from local schools, and the children of the greater Nashville area appear to have some talent. I overheard someone saying the kids pieces were better than the paid exhibition, and I thought the same thing myself. So perhaps the way to go about this gallery is to wander the free areas a bit before considering if it's worth paying for a ticket.

Heather J.

Yelp
We went to the Frist Art Museum for the first time and it was awesome! It's a smaller museum so it only really takes two hours at most to go through all of the rooms. They have a really cool interactive space for people of all ages to paint and draw. This time the interactive space was themed for the Knights in Armor exhibit on the second floor. They offer a military discount for military personnel, but in the summer, military personnel can bring themselves and a few others for free. We had four adults and all of our tickets were covered - a very generous discount for military men and women. We were very surprised to find out about the discount. All of our interactions with museum staff was positive. They were all friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. We will definitely be back!

Megan G.

Yelp
Great place to go especially when it's hot in Nashville. They offer many different exhibits every few months. The tickets are $15 for entry. 18 years and younger get in for free. They also have many different discounts for seniors, military, EBT/WIC families, and college students. The parking is $2 per hour in their gated lot. They also have an activity center for children (and adults) filled with many different creative stations. Definitely recommend especially for families!

Di D.

Yelp
Very inspirational and wowed by Lee Alexander McQueen! A must visiting if you are in town.

David B.

Yelp
Really cool old building. You can really enjoy the bones of the former post office. The staff was very nice. The exhibits were a little on the short side for us, but the Potter exhibit was sweet and well presented. Lots of construction going on when we were there, but it did not dampen a quick cute stop.

Hunter S.

Yelp
Housed in the former post office, this art deco dream is large and sophisticated enough to occupy a few hours of your time, while small enough it doesn't overwhelm you. The Frist has had a wide array of exhibits over the years to satiate different tastes. They've hosted Chihuly, they've highlighted black and brown artists. We just saw a fantastic Art Deco exhibit this weekend. They often showcase local artists and have shows focused on local history or events. As I mentioned, the architecture of the building is gorgeous and photo-worthy on its own. Cost is reasonable, at 15 dollars for an adult ticket. Close to many restaurants. Oh, and they have their own parking lot! Two dollars per hour for museum patrons. Worthwhile part of your nashville itinerary.

Blake M.

Yelp
I love the Frist it is the best museum in the city in my opinion. The rotating galleries bring in so many unique pieces it's almost impossible not to enjoy them. Upstairs is a children's section to help them connect with the art around them. As well as additional gallery space so you'll need to plan for a few hours here. The building itself is a former US Post office that they kept original pieces in place. They even hold tours to go over the architecture of the space. They have a private parking lot and will validate for your time there. They are also conveniently located on a frequent bus route.

Thomas F.

Yelp
Visited the Museum when I had some extra time today and was in the neighborhood and it should be on everyone's list of things to do! Very interesting exhibits and an easy location to visit.

Mary S.

Yelp
I love the Frist! It is such a beautiful art museum. I recently visited to check out the Light Space and Surface exhibit. It was super cool. I loved every piece that was a part of this exhibit, especially the interactive ones! I do wish that the Frist had more exhibits regularly! We made our way through it pretty fast and would have loved to look at more!

Sami L.

Yelp
I loved this museum! There was so much art, you could wander around for hours. I used a military discount, admission was $8 but they also have a student discount that is similar. I feel like I went through this museum pretty fast, and I spent about an hour and a half. I didn't purchase anything in the gift shop, but I walked through. They are taking covid precautions (I read previous reviews about them not). Everything is clean, you have to wear your masks, and there is sanitizer and cleaning stations everywhere. I felt completely safe inside. I would definitely visit again, there are some truly inspiring and beautiful pieces inside from the late 1800s era.

Bonnie G.

Yelp
Really sweet art museum that had a great Art Deco exhibit all about the flappers, World War One, and Great Depression leading into WW2. Especially fun and hilarious is the upstairs arts and crafts area, where you can draw a statue and interact with a ton of music and arts. Gorgeous museum building itself, a former, massive post office.

Tina C.

Yelp
I am a working artist and retired USPS illustrator. I have been to amazing art museums in NYC, Miami, and Italy. This one was about the worst waste of art endowment money ever. A beautiful building with pitiful and uninspiring art. A waste of $15 per person. With all the fabulous contemporary art out there this museum doesn't have it. So much wasted space and so little art to see. They did have a medieval armor show that was educational and interesting, which is why it got the star. I also think they had a lovely art interaction section upstairs for kids and adults to participate in.

Alannah N.

Yelp
I was extremely excited to get over to this museum, since being a massive art fan. When we got over to the museum (we walked), but I know they have a good amount of parking spots if you were driving. The entrance was a little confusing, we went through a side entrance and had to ask for where the ticket area was. Even if you buy tickets online you will still have to go over to the ticket area to get a sticker, which lets people know that you are suppose to be there. This is one of the few places we went that requires masks, which honestly I appreciated. It also was not very busy so we got to freely enjoy the exhibits without being on top of people. At the time they just opened their Art Deco exhibit and Mary Sibande: Blue Purple Red. They also had that is closing soon by Kara Walker. The Art Deco exhibit was phenomenal, it was probably something I was most excited about because I studied it in college. They had paintings, to houseware, to clothing. There was so many options to see! The Mary Sibande: Blue Purple Red exhibit was powerful, it was not something I knew about and it was probably my favorite exhibit in the whole museum. The Kara Walker museum was moving and uncomfortable. I found the whole museum was special and I wish more people knew about this hidden gem in Nashville.

Chirelle P.

Yelp
Only one of the exhibits were open when we visited, which was unfortunate. It's a cheap activity for something to do. Informational & cool to see, I guess I just expected more exhibits to be open. We were able to see the medieval bologna exhibit. The books are really cool to see. Interesting to see how things were interpreted in that era. The building is beautiful! Check out which exhibits are open. Would recommend it more if there were more than one exhibits open.

Rumit P.

Yelp
Mediocre. It looks huge from the outside but there's not much to see. Maybe I'm spoiled with huge museums in DC that are free but $15 a person for such a limited selection is not reasonable. The main floor has several rooms, lots of horse paintings (boring to me), some sculpture, some modern art exhibits. The upstairs is a giant kindergarten where kids can run, play, draw, and engage with different exhibits. Skip it on a visit. It's right across from our hotel and was included in our city pass so we gave it a shot and struck out. Watch out for the barely perceptible gray tape on the floor that indicates the distance you should be from the art. The staff were competent and friendly.

Maddie H.

Yelp
The Frist Art Museum is located in downtown Nashville near the Union Station. The art deco building in which the museum is housed is very large and grand and the interior is clean. The museum has a variety of rotating exhibits and they may have a few different ones at one time. Logistics- The building has a back entrance accessible through the staircase facing McGavock street and the guest parking or from the front on Broadway. The parking lot is not very big but there is also a pay parking lot down below where the Flying Saucer is. When you enter from the front entrance there is guest services on the right where you can purchase your admission tickets. It is $15 per adult for admission. In Winter they also have a complimentary coat check in the hallway across from the restrooms. The first floor also has a gift shop which is like any other museum gift shop. Experience- The featured exhibits are always on the first floor. The second floor has a hands-on kids area then a smaller exhibit space upstairs. The first time I came to the First it was because I heard that they had a fascinating exhibit that featured a Tibetan Buddhist sand art called mandalas. The monks blow the sand into brightly colored, intricate patterns and the mandala was several feet in length. The latest time I visited it was for an exhibit on Van Gogh, Monet, Degas and their times. It overall was a lovely exhibit since I consider French Impressionism one of the greatest times for art. Both visits I was not inside for more than an hour. Overall- I only visit the Frist when I see an exhibit that I am really excited about. Since the museum is quite small if you are not interested in the main exhibit then it won't be worth the price tag of admission. You can't really compare the Frist to the Met or the Smithsonians since those are huge, widely visited museums with more space and resources. I think for a city the size of Nashville the Frist is a nice museum. Do your research then stop by!

Art C.

Yelp
We went for an armor exhibit, which was really cool; however, I was surprised that they don't have a permanent collection. The other exhibit--artists working with light--was underwhelming.

Sunny W.

Yelp
The Art Deco architecture of this museum is stunning. Masks were required and there was plenty of space to be socially distance. Tickets are $15 adults. Two exhibits were presented while I was there. - Creating the American West in Art. There were sculptures, paintings and historical placards of the west and the variance of how depicted in movies vs. reality. There were displays with timelines in history. The art on exhibit was created from 1822 to 1946. - Glasgow Style art movement, featuring architect and artist - Charles R. Mackintosh. The Macintosh exhibit was amazing. Mackintosh worked most closely with his wife, sister-in-law and brother-in-law. They were known as The Four. I've always loved Art Deco style. It was so informative learning about the group from Glasgow. The art deco style was explained, there were videos showing how certain art pieces were created. There were furniture pieces, diagrams, posters, and sketches from the creatives of the Glasgow Style art movement. It's amazing there is so much information and documentation available. Architectural drawings, furniture design and creation, textiles, ceramics, metal plates, almost every branch of design was represented. I learned about many of the major players in this style. Definitely worth a visit. The gift shop was also cool. I purchased a book, some jewelry and a box of Mackintosh note cards with recipes on the back.

Jason G.

Yelp
I love going to art museums when I visit a new city. Frist made me happy with my tradition. The staff was helpful from the beginning to the end. The art was new to me, lots of artists I hadn't seen at other museums. My favorite part was actually designed for kids of all ages where we could interact with different mediums by drawing a model, making a stop action video, and playing Pictionary of sorts. I would highly recommend stopping here.

Alexis B.

Yelp
The best thing about the Frist is the building! The Frist is located within a Nashville historic landmark - the former main post office for the city! It was constructed in the early 1930s, and the Art Deco architecture is something to behold. It's worth the price of admission just to explore and view the building! They offer architectural tours on Saturdays. The Frist is Nashville's largest and most known art museum (some people might consider Cheekwood an art museum as well, as though it seems like a botanical garden/sculpture garden/historic house to me), but it doesn't even have a permanent collection. Seriously. So ONLY visit if they have an exhibit you're really interested in, because that's all you'll see. (They have about three galleries, all for visiting exhibitions.) The Frist is worth a visit if you're a visitor to Nashville or a local. It's not cheap though, so just make sure that they have an exhibit you're interested in!

Tony J.

Yelp
We love this place and have been coming here for years. Covid precautions are being taken now. Cafe is closed but gift shop is open. They're doing the exhibits with tours every 30 minutes right now to keep crowds limited. Lots of fine art to see and kids 18 and under are free.

Zarinah T.

Yelp
It was nice it was smaller than i anticipated... i liked the civil rights movement exhibition...Its always great to see history being told ...So the coolest part of this museum was the architecture of the building ....Its located in a old post office. I went during a time it was free to get in... im kind of glad i did not have to pay i would have been a little disappointed... WE LOVE museums and art but it wasnt exactly what i was expecting... my 12 year old didnt really enjoy it much . Despite this the staff were extremely nice and knowledgeable. One side of museum was the exhibit and the other side was an i activity center which was nice.... The exhibit was architecture of buildings ...which was cool but again it took less than 20 mins to get thru the museum but it was free even though we paid for parking because we missed the parking lot for the museum . While the museum was ok i wasnt wowed..probably wont return.

Veronica M.

Yelp
I love this place. Thank you Nashville for having this amazing place where you can tickle your brain and wake wonderful thoughts in your imagination. I love that my son is being able to be exposed to so much at such a young age. We came here during the 50th years of the Very Hungry Caterpillar and let me tell you, what an amazing expo. My baby, even though he is just 9 months old enjoyed every bit of it. He even created his 1st painting! It's so cool they had a play area for kids to get creative, adults can create too don't be shy. That room is on the second floor and the family bathroom is also near by. They also have classes! Also on the second floor. I was noticing they have some sort of membership. I'm not sure what the details are as I didn't enquired on the subject but they have the membership desk available for all questions if you're interested. They too have a gift shop with lots of souvenirs and presents. The prices are average to high. They have a cafe that is open during operating hours but we didn't try it on this visit and I haven't tried it personally on previous occasions that I have been in either. Definitely smelled good. The staff is very courteous, friendly and helpful. Our visit overall was very enjoyable and we made unforgettable and amazing memories.

Kevin J.

Yelp
Honestly, given the size of the spellcheck nightmare Frist museum, I could give it a 3 or even 2 star review. (The cool workshop area on the 2nd floor with the giant DIY Lite Brite set probably saves it from dreaded "meh" territory, though.) Fortunately for them, though, they knew the way to this Yelper's heart, which they did by booking an exhibit from Otavio and Gustavo Pandolfo of Sao Paolo, Brazil, better known as OSGEMEOS. (That's "The Twins" in Portuguese) I'd seen OSGEMEOS murals, paintings and installations in the pages of magazines, coffee table books and computer and phone screens before but never in person. And I hadn't even planned on stopping in Nashville on my trip down to New Orleans, instead giving myself a time slot to check out the art museum in Cincinnati. Then I saw Os Gemeos was showing here. (Sorry, I prefer their old way of writing it out - 2 words and not all caps - so I'm reverting to that.) Instant change of plans! I knew Os Gemeos would look better in person, but I didn't know how much better. The work had so much texture and was so intricate. I was just blown away. They might have moved past Mark Ryden as my favorite working painter(s). They're certainly my favorite brothers making art. I would never touch a painting in a gallery cause it's disrespectful but that's just what I wanted to do. The way the texture seemed to vary... in places they even used Mardi Gras Indian beads. I walked through the Os Gemeos exhibit 3 times, and I got to hear reactions from 3 college age women who'd never seen their work before, and were all kinds of impressed and talk with the security guard who was at the opening and said they were really cool and down to earth. (Note to self: dial back fanboy gushing if you ever meet Os Gemeos.) The bright colors the rooms that held the Os Gemeos work were painted really helped set off the work. And the placement of the rotating sculpture and the anthropomorphic speakers that actually played music was perfect, too. The Frist had 2 other exhibits and they were no slouches themselves. Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists is the first art exhibit at a major American museum of art solely from women indigenous to this continent. Among other things, it had a shadow box with totem pole images that worked it's light and magic on a whole room. A worthy exhibit, and long overdue, but unfortunately overshadowed by this particular reviewers longstanding Os Gemeos fandom. The Frist also had an exhibit highlighting Nashville murals which took up the entirety of the hallway heading to the main gallery. Some pretty fun stuff, and I wish I had had time to cruise around town to check some out, but I was NOLA bound, once I finally ripped myself from the Os Gemeos galleries. So I'd check what 3 shows the Frist is running first (there, spell check, I used the word "first", are you satisfied now?) and see if it's worth that $15 Adult admission to you. (They have no permanent collection, just the rotating exhibits.) Detroit, Chicago and Minneapolis have art galleries that blow this place away with their depth.. but none of them have Os Gemeos.

Tom C.

Yelp
Excellent museum . It was across the street from my hotel when I was in town so I stopped in and I'm so glad I did. The museum is located in a converted old USPS building so it is cavernous and steeped in original Art Deco. The museum hosts traveling exhibits so every time you visit it is conceivable that you are seeing different exhibits. The day I visited there was only one exhibit so the museum actually lowered their price of admission! That, in my experience with museums, is completely unprecedented. They lowered their (reasonable to begin with) admission price from $15 to $10! After going through the exhibit we went through the museum gift shop which is actually my only criticism of the whole Frist experience. I found the items in the gift shop to be mostly just souvenirs of Nashville - not the museum. It was actually an effort for me to find a mens T-shirt with the museum's logo.

Dana J.

Yelp
Frist Art Museum is small compared to most big city art institutions like the Philly Art Museum or the Met, although the gift shop was large. They don't have any permanent installations so be sure to go on their website and see if you like the traveling exhibits. When I went, they had an exhibit on surrealism called "Monsters, Myths, Surrealism, and War in the 1930s and 1940s" and one on Frida Khalo. Both were excellent exhibits and well worth my time and money. If you have a few spare hours in Nashville, I would recommend coming here. This museum can easily be done in an hour, max two.

Jimmy L.

Yelp
I was under the impression that Frist was a leader in the art world. Unfortunately, it seems that amateur hour prevails here. I saw an artist tonight that proved that AI is a cancer to the world of art. The exhibit was afrofuturism without any afrofuturism (and I doubt the artist knew what it even is!), art without any artistic talent, and really just a prime showcase of laziness and money pushing AI. It was embarrassing to be in the room. I feel bad for the artist because it was obvious they didn't even know how their AI generated its art! Shameful! Do better Frist, unless you want to be complicit in the death of art itself.

Nicole M.

Yelp
EEEKK! I was so thrilled that we were able to include this museum on my Nashville trip. It was definitely worth it. First, there is dedicated Frist parking. Get the ticket from the museum to only have to pay a few dollars for parking. Second, go see Frieda Kahlo...her work and showcase there is just divine. The amount of detail and history that they bring into the art is just They also had a local selection of art from a Nashville artist that just was mind melting. Highly recommend this place for anyone who wants to see some truly awe inspiring pieces of artwork and have a truly enjoyable outing in Nashville.

Eric W.

Yelp
Not for hard core museum hunters. Not a true Museum but just a gallery. No permanent collection. Deceptive web page showing famous works of art that only came through on quality exhibitions. Nothing resident to put on the road for other exhibitions. No Impressionist art, or Roman statutes as depicted. if you are simply looking for an enjoyable time looking at whatever is on display, you will have a delightful time. The volunteers are wonderful. The building is on the Historic register. Parking rates are sky high in the Cummins lot. I met the Director and asst. Director and they are wonderful people doing the best they can working without a permanent collection. Capable denizens of Nashville need to stock it with a permanent collection or stop calling it a Museum. It is just an Exhibition hall in a museum type building.

Ashley S.

Yelp
The Frida Khalo exhibit... THANK YOU! Seeing her original pieces in person did something to me. It was almost like a honor to be in the same room as Frida's ORIGINAL works of art. My daughter and I love her and wasn't expecting this during our trip to Nashville. We stopped here before returning home and so glad we did. The visit was so fulfilling.

Roxy H.

Yelp
My review is based on the customer service or lack there of. You see, I didn't even get to see the museum. I was coming to Nashville the week of April 12th so I decided to buy my ticket in advance. For some reason I accidentally bought the ticket for the 4th! I contacted the museum immediately after checkout. Now I get it, no refunds or exchanges tickets are final sale. BUT, I did expect some consideration or at least a slight discount to help me buy a second ticket for the error. NOPE. First of all I don't even think they understood that I wasn't from Nashville. They asked that I give the ticket to a friend. How would I do that? They also suggested that I come in on the 4th. How would I do that? After reading these reviews and hearing how small it is, I'm kind of glad I didn't miss much but where is customer service these days? I simply don't get it and will always tell my fellow art lovers and historians about my experience with this museum should they ever want to visit. Extremely disappointed.

Paul R.

Yelp
The Frist Art Museum is one of my absolute favorite places in Nashville. Becoming a member is an absolute must for anyone living here; it is a bargain and the Frist treats members like royalty, with member-only hours and special curated tours. Having been in the area for over two years now, I have already had the privilege of seeing a number of world-class exhibitions, including those covering Frida, Picasso, the American West and the newest one that I enjoyed yesterday, the Glasgow school of art nouveau. I love that the Frist does not have a permanent collection, but instead focuses on regularly attracting temporary exhibits from other art museums around the world. I have lived in (among other places) NYC and Europe, and in my opinion the Frist is an outstanding cultural institution that is among the best anywhere, which never ceases to exceed my high expectations.

Monica A.

Yelp
This place was really close to my first hotel, I did switch locations mid-trip to be able to see different sights while in town. The museum came recommended from several locals. I will say, in my opinion, it's pretty useless that they make guests walk all around the building to come in the back door "due to COVID". One of the stupidest things I've experienced if you ask me... There is no point, considering their lobby and real-estate space is big enough that they don't have to make people walk all that way to pretend like they're proactively "doing something about COVID". Social distancing is already in place as people are aware of what's happening. That, was really annoying and I almost left,.... but I was already there... The first floor has an "interestingly weird" display lol But the second and third floors were more down my alley. They had art drawings and lots of their history to accompany. At that point I kind stopped taking photos and opted to enjoy the displays, so I didn't take more pictures, and my battery kept dying from GPS and being out all day. Anywho, it's worth the trip, but like I said, finding the entrance was the stupidest thing in the world ...

Rach S.

Yelp
We came here to see a special photography exhibit. There was a line to get in before the museum had opened. The museum has several rotating exhibits, gift shop, restaurant with inside and outside seating. The cost is $15 pp. It is not a large museum and appears larger than it is from the outside.
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