- From the rhythm of the music created here to the natural beauty of our parks and greenways, there is a spirit of connection, celebration, and resilience at the core of Nashville’s identity. This city is a dynamic place where history is created and preserved, where innovation thrives alongside tradition, and where Nashvillians—old and new—are the beating pulse of a thriving and changing city.
The Soundwaves Gallery: THE HE(ART) OF NASHVILLE is a celebration of place, people, stories, and community spirit at the core of Nashville’s identity as a uniquely creative city. Meet the artists!
Courtney Gatewood - Courtney Gatewood is a passionate artist and researcher whose work explores the intersections of pattern, history, and the human figure. Deeply inspired by the theme of connection, she draws from her background in art history to examine how materials, colors, and cultural symbols link past and present. Her creative process is rooted in curiosity and a desire to reintroduce humanity—particularly the female form—into artistic spaces where it has often been underrepresented. Through a thoughtful blend of historical motifs and contemporary expression, Courtney creates figurative works that bridge tradition and innovation, inviting viewers to reconsider how we connect with art and each other.
Artwork: Blue Void, Acrylic on canvas
- “Empty space often allows for creativity. When I leave a space empty or void, it may be because I am still trying to understand myself as an artist. I suppressed my artistic mind for about ten years. Now, I am exploring who I want to be through patterns and figurative expressions. Although I have always been drawn to the representation of figures in art, I knew that skill was difficult to incorporate into contemporary art and make it meaningful. But why does it have to be so profound? I’m having fun blending my doodles and skills and trusting my process. This void represents my process. It’s all a part of the process.”
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Arash Shoushtari (IMGRNT)IMGRNT serves as the conceptual and creative framework of Arash Shoushtari (b. 1987), an Iranian-born American artist whose practice is rooted in a transdisciplinary approach encompassing the spectrum of two- to four-dimensional media. Shoushtari’s work interrogates themes inherent to the immigrant experience, refracting complex socio-cultural narratives through multifaceted media. His visual works, often studies in perception and optical distortion, employ modernized pattern language that evokes the symbolic lexicon of Persian textiles. These pieces serve as a semiotic exploration of diasporic identity, grounded in the storytelling traditions embedded within Persian rug-making. A graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (BFA 2010), Shoushtari’s work has been exhibited on both national and international stages.
Artwork: BWGRS (Triptych), Screen print on paper
“The hypnotic interplay of black-and-white optical patterns combined with green and red diamond shapes connected by a vertical gold line. The dynamic textures evoke energy, movement, and interconnectedness, this piece resonates with the city’s diverse and innovative creative spirit. Nashville, known for blending tradition with modernity, mirrors the juxtaposition of structured patterns and bold, vibrant colors in this triptych. The design symbolizes cultural fusion, storytelling, and the vibrant pulse of a city that thrives on artistic expression.”
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Lyn Stevens
Lyn Stevens is a self-taught photographer, who combines her love of photography with her passion for music. She approaches photography as a documentarian, based on the strong belief that she is documenting future history, in the present-day moment. Her work has been featured in Billboard Magazine, the Nashville Music Guide, and on the live telecast of the CMA Awards. In addition, her work has been featured in the Central South Art Exhibition at Metro Parks Centennial Center, Halcyon Art Gallery in Nashville, the Frist Art Museum, Williamson County Public Library, and at Nook (a modern boutique lifestyle retail store in Mount Juliet, TN). Lyn received an honorable mention in 2024, during the Central South Art Exhibition and is a three-time Nashville Independent Music Award winner, for her work on the indie music scene in Nashville. She sells her Fine Art Photography prints at art markets that are in and around Nashville.
- Artwork: House Left of Stage, Photography
“This scene captures three guitars resting on stands at the center of the music stage at The Basement East. These guitars are bathed in a soft, focused light that highlights their details. Each guitar has its own unique shape and finish, glistening under the spotlight. The stage is intimate, with dim lighting surrounding them, creating an atmospheric, almost magical effect. The background is blurred, with shadows and hints of the venue’s cozy ambiance, enhancing the feeling of anticipation, as if the music is about to begin.”
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This unique exhibition features 44 artworks by 44 local artists selected by the Nashville Soccer Club and the Arts & Business Council in collaboration with a three-person curatorial committee comprised of local arts leaders Michael J. McBride, Artist, Illustrator, Printmaker, Painter, and Instructor of Art at Tennessee State University; Amanda H. Hellman, Director of the Vanderbilt University Museum of Art; and Michael Mitchell (aka mikewindy), Artist and Art Education Coordinator at Tennessee State University.
The artwork will remain on display in the Soundwaves Gallery at GEODIS Park through the end of the Nashville SC 2025 Season.
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