Nowville: The Untold History of Nashville's Contemporary Art Scene [Paperback]

This is the origin story of Nashvilles surging contemporary art scene told by the ones who were there before anyone else. Not a story about commercial spaces or official institutionsthis is the story of moldy warehouse studios and improvised galleries, happy-kegger after-parties and front lawn art sales, exhibitions in apartment living rooms and secret art displays hidden in plain sight.

Nowvilleis an oral history of the Nashville art scene beginning in the 1990s. Author Joe Nolan tracks down the citys art punks, art monks, radical art students, and visionary pioneers to share what made their moments in Nashville so special. He also offers insights into how this homespun movement powered by DIY innovating came to be a thriving creative community and a cornerstone of the citys contemporary allure.

This book is the recipient of the 2025 Norman L. and Roselea J. Goldberg Prize from Vanderbilt University Press for the best book in the area of art or medicine.

A collection of oral histories of the contemporary art scene in NashvilleJoe Nolanis an intermedia artist based in Nashville, Tennessee. His diverse practice includes photography, multimedia paintings, public radio poetry broadcasts, live performances, musical releases, and public projects. His critical writing about art and film has appeared inArt in America,Whitehot Magazine of Contemporary Art,Flaunt,Nashville Scene, and more.