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!
Leroy Dawson- Leroy Ramon Dawson is a Nashville-based artist who is passionate about creating and sharing his work. His art is eclectic, with shifting tones, themes, and preferred mediums. “Leroy Draws Things” is at the core of his creative practice—he loves to draw! He also loves to create stickers, illustrate on canvases and papers of various sizes, customize apparel, and make his mark on other surfaces with pens, pencils, markers, and brushes.
- Artwork: The Heart of Music City, Acrylic
- “Expressing this year’s theme literally, this piece is THE HE(ART) OF NASHVILLE. Just as blood flow is vital for survival, the Cumberland River has been integral in Nashville’s growth and development and still supports the people of Nashville today. The river started as a passage for early hunters and settlers and was integral for trade routes and accessible water for early towns. The Cumberland still flows as an integral source of drinking water, water recreation, and Nashville’s continued growth and development!”
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Marla Faith
- Marla Faith is an artist in Nashville,TN. She has had a career teaching art and art history in schools, and directing education programs in art museums while consistently creating her own art. She grew up in Chicago, and moved to Nashville from New York in 1990. Ms Faith has a BFA in Painting from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and an MS in Museum Leadership from Bank Street College in NYC. She has exhibited her artwork across the country, including one person shows at The Parthenon of Nashville and twice at The Nashville Airport. Ms Faith is a prolific artist of unique oil paintings, drawings, and mixed media collages, with emphasis on upcycled materials and fabrics. Her art is in private collections in New York, California, and Nashville, and can be seen at marlafaith.com.
- Artwork: Sandra and Chester, Oil on Linen
“The beloved iconic store PANGEA was owned and operated by Sandra. It was an independent shop of imported clothing, jewelry, and special items. Many of us loved this unique locally owned place, and we followed it from its location on Belmont Ave to Hillsboro Village until Sandra retired some years ago. We all still miss it, truly a gem of our city. Chester was one of Sandra’s dog companions who often accompanied her to work The milagros around the border of this painting are examples of what she sold and collected herself.“
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Trisha Peña
- Trisha Peña is an abstract artist based in Nashville, Tennessee, who transitioned to visual art later in life through music and writing. A self-taught artist, she discovered her passion by painting her home’s walls with vibrant treatments. Although she claims she cannot draw a straight line, she primarily works with acrylics on textured canvases. Her series “Team Spirit Reimagined” features abstract pieces in sports teams’ official colors, offering fans a unique alternative to traditional logos. Trisha’s distinctive style extends to products like purses, silk scarves, high-heeled pumps, and facemasks, earning her international recognition for her diverse artistic endeavors. You can find prints and products from Trisha’s paintings at TrishaPenaArt.com.
- Artwork: John Prine’s Angel, Acrylic on stretched canvas
“This was painted after watching Bonnie Raitt play at the Ryman sing this classic as a tribute to her beloved friend. There is nothing more HE(ART) OF NASHVILLE than that.“ -
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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