What were once blank walls in downtown Nashville have become pieces of art thanks to the Nashville Walls Project.
The street art project, presented by the Gibson Custom Shop, brought world-famous artists from all around the world to transform blank walls into murals using the artists' own ideas and inspiration in a town known for individualism and creativity.
Each wall selected had a different artist picked to share their gift. Artists include artist duo Herakut, Rone, Niels Shoe Meulman, and Adele Renault. More artists will visit Nashville to do murals of their own after the first wave of murals are completed.
The murals are located off of Church Street in downtown Nashville near Fifth and Sixth Avenue.
"Nashville is opening it's arms to more visual art that will match the amazing music that's been going on here for so long." Tova Lobatz, curator for the Nashville Walls Project said.
While the artists focused on their murals, they also brought along individual pieces of art to be displayed at galleries around town, like Tinney Contemporary.
"To bring these guys in from all over the world has been thrilling to us." Susan Tinney, owner of Tinney Contemporary, said.
In addition to the work from the muralists, a piece of art from the world-famous and very elusive artist Banksy is on display as well at Tinney Contemporary, although the piece "Haight Street Rat" by Banksy is not for sale.
"it's huge, we've been getting emails and correspondences from all over the world." Tinney said of the Banksy piece.
Haight Street Rat, along with the pieces of art by the muralists, will be on display at Tinney Contemporary starting on Saturday at 6 p.m.
While the pieces of art are only on display for a limited time, unless you purchase them and display them in your own home, the murals created by the artists are in Nashville to stay.
"It just gives you something different to look at besides just cranes and everything else that's going up." Tayo Atanda of Bone McAllester Norton PLLC said. His office on the 16th floor overlooks the murals that are being created downtown.
Organizers of the Nashville Walls Project said after the first four murals are completed in downtown, they have plans to bring in more artists to complete additional murals in the near future.
