4 minute read
Art & Hospitality
BOBBY HOTEL NASHVILLE PROMOTES LOCAL ART TO GUESTS IN NEW COLLABORATION
BY HOLLIE DEESE | PHOTOGRAPHY SUBMITTED
Bobby Hotel Nashville continues its commitment to showcasing local art by launching a new partnership with Red Arrow Gallery, The Collection at Bobby: Intersection
The exhibit is the hotel’s first with Red Arrow Gallery, one of Nashville’s leading contemporary art spaces. It is known for bold exhibitions and a commitment to diverse, global artistic voices.
“They are one of the more forward-thinking galleries in Nashville, and we really want to keep things interesting for guests and locals when they come to Bobby to see art,” says Tony Phillips, general manager for Bobby Hotel.
The hotel has worked with Tinney Contemporary to showcase art in the common areas; the installations offer hotel guests dynamic perspectives while directly reinvesting in the city’s creative ecosystem.
“Our ownership is really interested in giving back to the arts community,” Phillips says. “We want to be close enough to Broadway where if our guests are so inclined, they can get there and go experience it, but we also want to be known for culture. And so being part of an arts district is important to us.”
All works will be available for purchase; proceeds go directly back to the gallery and artists. The exhibition will be ongoing through Sept. 23, 2025, and include Bobby Nashville’s participation in the Downtown Nashville Second Saturday Art Crawl, with art and hospitality intersecting in one vibrant space.
“The hope is that some of the pieces will sell,” Phillips says. During their collaboration with Tinney Contemporary, hotel guests bought 12 pieces of art; the hotel took no commission.
The exhibit is curated by Katie Shaw and Ashley Layendecker of Red Arrow. The all-female-led gallery has built a reputation for amplifying underrepresented voices while advocating for artists at every stage of their careers.
“Our mission is really to amplify the art that’s happening in this region,” Shaw says. “So we pulled together a group of artists from our program and outfitted it to the space, which has a maximalism-type interior.” That includes large pieces with high impact and work that is graphic and bold.
Intersection brings together nearly 20 artists whose works explore the convergence of space, identity and expression across painting, sculpture and mixed media.
Our mission is really to amplify the art that’s happening in this region. — Tony Phillips
“We wanted to be really deliberate with showing Nashville-connected artists for the people who are staying at the Bobby,” Shaw says. “They’re coming to Nashville to do touristy things, but they can still experience the art scene here that’s thriving — and connect to the broader contemporary art world in Nashville.”
The diverse work ranges from painting and sculpture to mixed media and reflects the unique spirit of Nashville. The exhibition celebrates the convergence of Red Arrow’s artist program and the dynamic Bobby Hotel environment, highlighting the ways visual art can amplify, transform and complement inhabited spaces.
Each artist featured in the exhibition has a deep connection to Nashville, bringing their own perspective to the dialogue between creativity and environment. The works on display capture a city in constant evolution, from its vibrant music scene to its rich cultural heritage, while inviting viewers to explore the interplay between space, context and artistic expression.
As the first of many collaborative endeavors between Red Arrow and the Bobby Hotel, Intersection reflects the organizations’ commitment to fostering local talent, cultivating community engagement and expanding the ways art can enhance the collective experience of Nashville’s locals and visitors.
“I think it’s really important for hospitality in Nashville to see what we’re doing at Bobby and what we’ve done at SoHo House, where these businesses are sourcing Nashville artists,” Shaw says. “That’s what’s going to grow our artist economy in Nashville and really make Nashville a sustainable place for artists to live and want to move to.” NI
