NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Cheekwood Estate & Gardens announces its 2027 schedule of exhibitions, festivals and signature events, featuring a landmark presentation celebrating the 50th anniversary of a 1977 exhibition, contemporary art installations, spectacular seasonal displays and cultural celebrations throughout the year.
The year begins with Warhol-Wyeth: Portraits of Each Other, bringing together many of the original works from Andy Warhol and Jamie Wyeth's groundbreaking 1977 exhibition at Cheekwood, alongside later works by Wyeth. The spring season includes the return of Orchids in the Mansion, Cheekwood in Bloom and Holi, as well as an INTERVENTIONS installation by porcelain artist Anna Volkova.
Throughout the summer and fall, visitors can explore the larger-than-life habitats featured in the blockbuster exhibition It’s a Wild Life: A SuperSized Habitats Adventure, along with the return of Fleurs de Villes, the Martin Shallenberger Artist-in-Residence: Clare Celeste Börsch and Cheekwood Harvest. The season also includes cultural celebrations such as the Black Arts Bash, Japanese Moon Viewing and El Día de los Muertos. The year concludes with Holiday LIGHTS, featuring more than one million lights throughout the gardens.
Titles and dates of events are subject to change.
Museum Exhibitions
Warhol-Wyeth: Portraits of Each Other
January 30 – May 16
In 1976, Andy Warhol, the King of Pop, and Jamie Wyeth, Prince of Realism, produced a series of reciprocal portraits, each interpreting the other through their distinct artistic lenses. The completed works were exhibited at Coe Kerr Gallery, the Brandywine Museum and Cheekwood in 1977, documenting an extraordinary creative exchange between two influential American artists.
Now, fifty years later, Cheekwood revisits this landmark moment in its history, reuniting works from the original presentation that have dispersed into private and public collections over the past five decades, and celebrating the portrait paintings by Wyeth and Warhol in Cheekwood's permanent collection purchased for the institution by a group of donors in 1976.
Measured Abstraction
January 30 – June 20
Curated from Cheekwood’s permanent collection, this exhibition explores the striking interplay of geometric form, color, and line in mid- to late-20th-century printmaking. Featuring artists such as Sol LeWitt, Frank Stella, Josef Albers, and Ellsworth Kelly, the exhibition combines rhythmic patterns and vibrant colors that transform simple shapes into captivating visual experiences. These artists used precision, repetition, and subtle variations to push the boundaries of abstraction, revealing the surprising energy and beauty that emerge from carefully measured design.
Orchids in the Mansion
January 30 – March 7
An immersive display features 1,300 orchids within the Historic Mansion and invites visitors to wander beneath a life-size arch of blooming orchid spheres. Elegant pink and white orchids mingle with burgundy ficus foliage, lush ferns and striking patterns of Tradescantia zebrina, creating a larger-than-life experience that celebrates the beauty and magic of winter in bloom. Visitors can also explore the fascinating world of orchids through a variety of classes and workshops, and orchids will be available for purchase after the exhibition ends.
INTERVENTIONS: Anna Volkova
March 13 – June 27
Netherlands-based artist Anna Volkova is known for her porcelain sculpture, mosaics, and ceramic murals, creating works that range from delicate sculptural objects to large-scale architectural projects.
Her porcelain floral sculptures are inspired by 17th-century Dutch still-life paintings. Fascinated by their extraordinary variety of forms and colors, Volkova seeks to capture their fleeting beauty and give it a lasting form. Each flower is an individual sculptural interpretation of nature, with its own character and presence.
Through years of practice, Volkova developed her own porcelain formula, allowing her to create remarkably delicate forms. Each flower is sculpted by hand, creating artistic interpretations that express both the grace and vulnerability of nature. Through her floral sculptures, Volkova gives form to the timeless tension between the fleeting nature of existence and the human desire to preserve it. For her installation at Cheekwood, Volkova will create bespoke porcelain floral arrangements inspired by the beauty of flowers and the historic setting of the Cheekwood Mansion during Cheekwood in Bloom.
Now in its sixth year, INTERVENTIONS is an arts initiative that activates Cheekwood’s historic period rooms through contemporary art. The series invites renowned artists from around the globe to imagine new connections between their work and Cheekwood.
INTERVENTIONS is made possible by the Sandra Schatten Foundation.
Fleurs de Villes
August 7 – 15
Global flower show sensation Fleurs de Villes returns to Cheekwood for a third year, with a new show featuring one-of-a-kind fresh floral mannequins created by Nashville floral designers and displayed throughout Botanic Hall, the Frist Learning Center and Historic Mansion & Museum. The new theme for this year’s show will be announced in the spring.
Martin Shallenberger Artist-in-Residence: Clare Celeste Börsch
August 7 – January 9, 2028
Clare Celeste Börsch is a German-American artist based in Berlin whose work celebrates the beauty and diversity of the natural world. Using paper cut images of plants, flowers, butterflies, and wildlife, she creates vibrant, three-dimensional compositions that transform spaces into immersive environments.
During her residency, Börsch will draw inspiration from Cheekwood’s botanical collections, gardens, and historic estate to create a large-scale immersive installation. Combining intricate paper elements, botanical forms, and vivid colors, her work will invite visitors into an imaginative landscape that celebrates nature’s beauty and the importance of protecting the plants and animals that share our planet.
Börsch’s work has been exhibited at the American Museum of Natural History in New York and Homo Faber in Venice. She has also completed installations for brands such as Cartier, and her work has appeared in The Guardian, Harper’s Bazaar and ELLE.
The Artist-in-Residence program is made possible through the generous support of the Shallenberger family.
Garden Events and Exhibitions
It’s a Wild Life: A SuperSized Habitats Adventure
May 1 – September 5
The featured summer exhibition invites visitors to explore the natural world from an entirely new perspective through five larger-than-life animal habitats positioned throughout the gardens. Created in collaboration with Pfeffer Torode Architects and Daigh Rick Landscape Architects, the immersive experience features a giant bird’s nest, bug hotel, ant colony, beehive and fox holler. Each habitat offers engaging, hands-on activities that encourage children and families to explore, discover, and learn how these animals live and thrive. The exhibition will also give new life to wood salvaged from last year’s ice storm. Carefully stored and dried offsite, this material will be thoughtfully incorporated into the installations, transforming a challenging event into an opportunity for creative reuse.
Tennessee Arbor Day
March 5 – 7
There’s no better place to celebrate trees than at an accredited arboretum. The weekend will feature activities, events and speakers designed to educate and entertain guests of all ages.
Great Spring Art Hop
March 26 – 27
Cheekwood's annual spring celebration returns for the 35th year with egg hunts featuring 36,000 eggs, larger-than-life bunny murals created by Nashville artists, food trucks, music and more.
Dogs & Dogwoods
April 3 – 4
Bring your four-legged best friend for a springtime stroll through the Carell Dogwood Garden amidst the blooming dogwoods. The weekend also features dog-themed vendors, food trucks and musical performances.
Nashville Opera at Cheekwood
May 20
The Nashville Opera returns to the gardens for the second year in a row for an evening of opera classics and popular favorites in a beautiful outdoor setting.
Exposition of Elegance: Classic Cars & Motorcycles at Cheekwood
June 19 – 20
Classic cars and vintage motorcycles take center stage on Father’s Day weekend. Celebrate automotive history complete with music, food, car talks, children's activities and the Tour d'Elegance through Belle Meade.
Songwriters Under the Stars
August 27 – 28
Experience local songwriters sharing chart-topping songs and stories on Swan Lawn, accompanied by the renowned Music City Symphony. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy drinks and bites from local food trucks.
Halloween Pooch Party
October 23 – 24
Bring your pup to Pumpkin Village for a weekend of Halloween fun, including two costume contests each day. Guests can also browse dog-friendly vendors and find special treats for their four-legged companions.
Cultural Events
Holi
April 10
Celebrate Holi, the Hindu festival of spring and colors, with vibrant color-throwing sessions, music and dance performances, hands-on activities, food and local vendors.
Holi is supported by Nissan Foundation.
Black Arts Bash
June 12
Cheekwood celebrates Black creativity and expression through music, dance, visual art, spoken word, culinary experiences and more. The Black Arts Bash Fine Art Exhibition, featuring both emerging and established artists, will be on view June 1–14 in the Frist Learning Center Great Hall.
Black Arts Bash is supported by Nissan Foundation.
Japanese Moon Viewing
September 12
The 13th annual Otsukimi celebrates Japanese culture with tea ceremonies, mochi pounding, taiko drumming, art activities, garden tours, bonsai displays and a marketplace featuring food, art and handcrafted goods. The celebration is produced in partnership with the Consulate General of Japan and the Japan-America Society of Tennessee.
El Día de los Muertos
October 30 – 31
For the 28th year, Cheekwood celebrates El Día de los Muertos with student-created murals, community ofrendas, Latin and Aztec dance performances, traditional music, authentic cuisine, handmade goods and activities for all ages.
Seasonal Favorites
Cheekwood in Bloom
March 13 – April 11
Spring bursts into bloom with more than 200,000 flowering bulbs throughout the gardens, including 110,000 tulips. The festival features the debut of the Tulip River, a stunning display of approximately 15,000 white, apricot and orange tulips accented by white, yellow and purple violas along the walkway between the Bradford Robertson Color Garden and Arboretum Lawn. Visitors can enjoy the gardens in peak bloom, along with art and history in the Historic Mansion, floral workshops and classes, weekend entertainment and food trucks.
Cheekwood Harvest
September 18 – October 31
Cheekwood transforms for fall with more than 100,000 pumpkins decorating the gardens throughout the season, along with the return of Pumpkin Village and the Scarecrow Trail, seasonal entertainment, activities and other surprises.
Holiday LIGHTS
November 20 – January 9, 2028
More than one million lights illuminate Cheekwood's gardens during the annual holiday celebration, featuring the Peppermint Path, Star Field, 28-foot Pixel Pine and other new features and spectacular displays along a one-mile walking path. Inside the Historic Mansion, former White House Floral Designer Laura will transform the interiors with a new theme and design, adding to the celebration of the season.
Holiday LIGHTS is presented by Truist.
Experience More with a Cheekwood Membership
With an exciting year of art, gardens, festivals, music and special events ahead, 2027 will be a great year to become a Cheekwood Member. Membership provides year-round access to Cheekwood’s exhibitions, gardens and seasonal celebrations, along with invitations to special programs, Member events and other exclusive benefits.
Take advantage of Cheekwood’s Black Friday Membership Sale, November 25–30. Use discount code LIGHTSFLASH26 to save $15 on a membership.
Join or renew your Membership at cheekwood.org/membership.
Cheekwood is funded in part by Tennessee Arts Commission and Metro Arts.
About Cheekwood Estate & Gardens
With its intact and picturesque vistas, Cheekwood is distinguished as one of the leading Country Place Era estates in the nation. Formerly the family home of Mabel and Leslie Cheek, the 1930s estate encompasses a 30,000-square-foot Mansion and 55 acres of gardens. Today, Cheekwood serves the public as a botanical garden, arboretum and art museum, featuring furnished period rooms and galleries devoted to American art from the 18th through the mid-20th centuries. The property includes 13 distinct gardens including the Blevins Japanese Garden and the Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden, as well as a 1.5-mile woodland trail featuring outdoor monumental sculpture. Each year, Cheekwood hosts seasonal festivals including Cheekwood in Bloom, Summertime at Cheekwood, Cheekwood Harvest and Holiday LIGHTS. Cheekwood is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and designated a Level II Arboretum. Cheekwood has been voted one of USA Today’s Top 10 Botanical Gardens four times, was named Tennessee’s Most Beautiful Garden by HGTV in 2025, received Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards in 2024 and 2025, and was named one of the 12 Most Beautiful Gardens in the American South by Fodor’s in 2021. Cheekwood is located eight miles southwest of downtown Nashville at 1200 Forrest Park Drive. The property is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended days and hours seasonally. Visit cheekwood.org for current hours and to purchase advance tickets, which are required for admission.
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