Katherine Frensley '16 - Selected as a Nashville Artist in Residence

“Having grown up in Nashville, I knew the space,” she said. “I saw this residency as an opportunity to grow in my practice, collaborate, and connect with the Nashville art community.”

Much of Frensley’s foundation was shaped by St. Cecilia visual art teachers Barbara Gronefeld and Amie Pike, whom she credits with “lighting the fire within to push me to explore and be open to opportunities.

“They taught me to push boundaries and work hard,” she added.  

Their guidance emphasized that artistic talent alone is not enough — dedication and a strong work ethic are essential, Frensley noted. 

Pike recalled Frensley’s artistic ability, curiosity, and experimentation with various media. “Katherine was an exceptional art student while at SCA,” Pike said. “Her work explored various techniques while incorporating images of subjects important to her such as friends and rowing as well as exploring self-portraiture. She created exceptional cyanotypes and mixed media pieces that showed her interest in alternative art mediums.”

Frensley’s fond memories of time spent in the SCA courtyard, working in the art room, and developing photographs in the darkroom illustrate the profound impact of those formative years. Early experiences at St. Cecilia also played a significant role, with its structure, support, and resources helping to prepare Frensley for success in college and beyond. 

“My teachers and the classes I took at SCA helped me achieve where I wanted to be today,” she said. “Not only did I want to be good at art, I wanted to do well in all of my subjects.”

After high school, Frensley attended Temple University’s Tyler School of Art and Architecture in Philadelphia earning a Bachelor of Fine Art in Fibers and Material Studies with a minor in Art History. Graduating in 2020 during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic was a challenging experience. The pandemic brought an abrupt end to academic life, prompting Frensley to return to Nashville. Since then, her journey has been diverse and fulfilling, including work as a curatorial intern at the Frist Art Museum with the Exhibitions Department, participation in various art shows across Tennessee, collaborations and mentorships with talented artists, extensive travel across the United States, and personal milestones such as meeting her future husband.

Acceptance into the Arcade Arts residency program marked a thrilling new chapter. “We plan to showcase our finished and in-progress pieces, connect and meet with established artists, educators, and curators, host demonstrations, workshops, and artist talks, and curate other artists within the space.” Having never had a dedicated studio or space to create and display work, this opportunity presented a chance to develop artistic ideas and practices fully. Frensley has been able to host artist talks, network with those in the arts community, and explore future career opportunities.

Thriving in her preferred media, Frensley utilizes “weaving, tufting, quilting, painting, photography, and printmaking techniques as physical representations of my research and experimentation with nature.” 

Not only does her art incorporate recycled elements, but also organic material grown in her dye garden. One of the pieces she is currently making is a series of indigo-dyed coiled soft sculptures, which she says has been her favorite yet most challenging project so far. Through experimenting with material and form, the work makes a statement about the concept of time as the piece slowly changes form and fades in color.

“In a way, I could describe it as a meditation with impermanence as I work to create a beautiful piece of art that inevitably changes or is altered from its original state,” she explained.

To view Frensley’s work, make plans to attend the Downtown Arts District Alliance (DADA) Art Crawl every other Saturday of the month from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. or schedule a studio visit through June 2025. The Art Crawl includes Arcade Arts, the Browsing Room Gallery, Chauvet Arts, Tinney Contemporary, Bobby Hotel Nashville, Swipe Right Art, and Banker's Alley Museum. To follow Frensley’s career and connect, visit her website at katherinefrensley.com and her artist Instagram @katherine_r_frensley.