Exhibitions

CHASE WILLIAMSON: SOULS GROWN DEEP

COOP Gallery / 507 Hagan St., Nashville , TN April 5 - 19th

Chase Williamson

COOP Gallery is pleased to present Souls Grown Deep, a solo exhibition by Tennessean artist Chase Williamson, opening April 5, 2025, during the Nashville Art Crawl from 1–9 PM. Exploring the historical and contemporary significance of Black gardens as spaces of healing, reclamation, and resistance, Williamson’s large-scale scenic portraits are paired with soil from Black gardens across Tennessee. Drawing from her matrilineal lineage and the enduring legacy of African American women in horticulture, Souls Grown Deep reexamines the botanical histories often overlooked and the transformative power of tending to land.

Through oil, glitter, fabric, and immersive elements, Williamson creates a world where Black femme subjecthood and plant life intertwine, honoring the resilience and agency of Black women across generations.

More about the Artist

Chase Williamson is a painter and MFA candidate at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Born and raised in Middle Tennessee, her southern living experience is the major propeller for her work. She centers the interconnection of the Southern Black Garden, memorial waters, and Black womanhood through her paint and fabric compositions. Chase received a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and Psychology from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (2022). Her work has been showcased in numerous institutions, such as the Museum of Science and Industry (2024), the Frist Art Museum (2024),Cë Gallery (2024), and Zeitgeist Gallery (2024). Additionally, Williamson was a Curatorial Fellow at the Frist Art Museum (2023), an artist in residence at the Atlantic Center for the Arts (2023), and has had work published in Burnaway magazine.

More about COOP

COOP is a curatorial collective made up of artists, curators, thinkers and professors who are committed to expanding Nashville’s dialogue with contemporary art by presenting challenging new or under-represented artists/artworks to our community. COOP is committed to exhibiting art of diverse media and content, with a goal to provide an alternative venue for artists free from the constraints of the retail market. COOP seeks to initiate a discourse between Nashville and art scenes across the country by inviting artists to show, develop projects and interact with the Nashville community.