Arts

Visual Arts

Visual ArtsTaking Creative Risks

Visual art is a universal tool for communication and a fundamental component of the human spirit. In Lower School, young artists receive weekly art instruction, and creative projects are integrated into classroom curriculums throughout the year.

Middle School artists begin a journey through the creative studios as part of their elective program rotations, and arts faculty often develop focused cross-curricular assignments with classroom teachers that allow students to demonstrate their knowledge through project-based work.

Our High School art classes are designed to promote independent thinking, risk-taking, and self-exploration through discourse, personal inquiry, and interdisciplinary collaboration while achieving technical creative control.

Programs & Opportunities

  • Ceramics

    Ceramics courses provide students with the space and tools to develop hand-building techniques with an emphasis on design elements and principles that allows them to bring functional and sculptural visions to life. Students learn about glazes and slips and can explore wheel throwing as they hone their craft and engage in a deeper investigation of the possibilities of building with clay.

  • Drawing & Painting

    As artists practice representational and expressive techniques, their skills as creative observers and documentarians become artistic identities through unique perspectives. Students cover a wide variety of subject matter and materials in drawing & painting courses as they learn how to recreate what they see on a blank canvas.

  • Digital Media & Filmmaking

    From transforming fictional worlds into short films to capturing real world stories in inventive and engaging ways, digital media & filmmaking courses provide young artists with the resources and instruction needed to sharpen their storytelling skills using digital media tools. By producing eye-catching content and carefully curated narratives, students are empowered to believe in the value of their stories and to lift up the voices of those around them.

  • Printmaking

    In a city with a long history of expression and promotion through printmaking, students have the exciting opportunity to dive into this distinctive craft using USN's onsite printing press. Students can explore the endless possibilities of traditional and contemporary printmaking techniques to create their own unique prints in our world-class printmaking studio.

  • Glass

    Students can explore the many facets of glass, its history, its unique composition, and the tools and equipment necessary to manipulate and shape such a fantastic material. As students familiarize themselves with the endless ways to manipulate glass into art, they create beautiful pieces including functional items like bowls and plates, as well as small sculptural forms and wall pieces.

  • Sculpture & 3D

    Students flex their creative muscles as they push boundaries through 3D and sculptural designs. Overcoming challenges and exploring new mediums are central themes inside our woodworking, sculptural, and 3D art studios.

  • Photography (Digital & Traditional)

    Students are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to confidently capture moments in time and share new perspectives through our digital and traditional photography offerings. As young artists dive into photography, they quickly discover the tremendous power a camera possesses and are able to leverage that power to persuade, inform, entertain, and more.

  • Nashville & Beyond: Contemporary Practices

    By looking at diverse processes, concepts, materials, technologies, and methods emerging in the art world today, students deepen their understanding of contemporary art with field trips to local galleries, museums, and universities along with visits from guest artists and more.

  • Art History & Special Topics

    Key to developing an artistic voice is understanding the history behind a medium. Students travel through time as observers of the evolution of art through a range of cultural and historical lenses as a means for gaining insight into the power of self-expression.

Art on DisplayGallery Spaces

USN boasts three art galleries on the Edgehill Campus — the Main Gallery outside of the Edgehill Lobby, the Meachem Gallery in the Lower School reception area, and the Tibbott Gallery in the Christine Slayden Tibbott Center.

Throughout the year, the Main and Meacham Galleries feature a rotation of student artwork. Meanwhile, the Tibbott Gallery features a rotation of student work as well as exhibits from guest artists. Students, alumni, and professional artists-in-residence have also painted several murals across the Edgehill Campus.
  • Curriculum Curriculum
    13 grades, unlimited possibilities. Teaching & Learning Academics
  • Creativity Creativity
    Creativity, inspiration, collaboration. Create with usArts
  • Competition Competition
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Contact USN

Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212

Phone:  615-321-8000
Fax:       615-321-0889 
Email:    info@usn.org

River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218

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USN Mission: 
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.