New Member’s Exhibition
Dec 7 – Dec 28 | Opening Reception December 7, 1 PM– 9 PM
COOP Gallery is pleased to present work by nine of our new members in this year’s New Member’s Exhibition, opening Saturday, December 7, in conjunction with the WeHo Art Crawl and closing Saturday, December 28. This eclectic show includes photography, ceramics, paintings, and mixed media works and demonstrates the creative breadth of our newest Artist-Members.
More about the Artists
Kelly Ann Graff is a writer, fiber artist, and educator. Her work has been featured in group shows in Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. They hold a Master’s of Education from Vanderbilt University. She is a librarian with the Free Nashville Poetry Library, the School and Outreach Programs Coordinator at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, and a former MNPS teacher.Their writing has been published in Bible Belt Queers, Wussy Magazine, and The Salt Weekly among others.
Cara Anne Greene is an artist and small business operator based in Nashville, TN. Her arts practice is rooted in process and materiality experimentation utilizing textiles, ceramics, and glass. She draws inspiration from both family craft practices and the reuse material movement. Raised in Nashville with deep family roots in Tennessee, she is passionate about fostering experimental arts in the South. In addition to being a member of COOP, she is also the current COO of Dryden Studio and a board member of the Arts and Business Council.
Jan Hatleberg is an artist based in Tennessee, where nature plays an integral role in her life and work. Her art centers on the tree, with a particular focus on the graceful extension of its branches. Since the tornado that devastated her neighborhood in 2020, the surviving trees have taken on a new meaning for her. Their endurance, grace, and fragility resonate with her own reflections on the human experience. She views her paintings as tapestries of color, woven together through quiet contemplation. Her work is not driven by any one overarching theme, but rather by a deep connection to the present moment and the beauty and resilience found in nature.
Jarrett Kinsland is a Tennessee artist working in ceramics and mixed media. He holds a BFA in sculpture and ceramics from Murray State University of KY and has exhibited his work across the southeastern United States. Spontaneity, biomorphism, pareidolia, and the belief that perfection gets in the way of fun, are subjects that energize his creative pursuits. When not in the studio you can find him reading forgotten lore, spending time with his wife, and experimenting in the kitchen.
Delanyo Mensah is a multidisciplinary artist, curator, and advocate whose work bridges art, justice, and community. As a queer, first-generation Ghanaian-American, Mensah’s creativity draws from her rich heritage and lived experiences, centering Black women and queer people of color. Her artistic practice—spanning photography, poetry, and mixed media—boldly challenges conventions and invites viewers on a journey of self-discovery and connection. She weaves together the past and present through cultural elements like adinkra symbols, offering new meanings that reflect her intersectional identity.
Natalie Thedford is an artist and art educator from East Tennessee, currently based in Nashville. She recently completed an MFA in Studio Practices form the University of Colorado Boulder and has moved back to Tennessee to teach Ceramics at the University School of Nashville. Natalie’s work is inspired by the traditional handcraft techniques, like sewing, knitting, smocking, and quilting, that she learned from her grandmother who is an expert seamstress. Natalie takes various elements from those traditions, whether they are aesthetic qualities or specific processes, and translates them into other materials, like clay, paper, and plastic landscaping tarps, that aren't associated with those crafts.
Pallas Lane Umbra is an interdisciplinary artist who incorporates painting, photography, performance, and various mixed media approaches to their practice. Raised in the Appalachian Mountains of East Tennessee, Pallas went on to receive their BFA in Studio Art from the Watkins College of Art at Belmont University in 2022. Pallas has exhibited in solo and juried exhibitions as well as several group shows since 2019. During their undergraduate journey, they developed an interest in curation, and have been involved with a myriad of exhibition installations since.
Taylor Walton's passion for creativity has been evident since his upbringing in small-town Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he was always sketching and experimenting with different artistic mediums. Recently, he relocated to the vibrant city of Nashville, seeking to establish himself in its bustling art scene. Walton is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design, refining his skills and developing his creative voice. With his enthusiasm and dedication, Walton is well on his way to establishing himself as a prominent figure in the art world.
Danielle Wilson is a multimedia artist whose work in acrylic, clay and fabric aim to emphasize the overlooked aspects of contemporary Southern Black life. Attempting to reconnect with her African roots, Dani’s current works explore themes of West African Music and Orisha beliefs. As she explores the interconnected elements of West African Culture and African American traditions and long-held beliefs, Dani invites her audience to both learn from and contribute to her understanding of the oneness of everything.
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.
For questions contact: info@coopgallery.org, Sai Clayton, saimuraiclayton@gmail.com