Meet Courtney Gatewood | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Courtney Gatewood and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Courtney, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I view risks as challenges to be embraced. Growing up in a small town in Northwest Tennessee, there were limited activities available. We often had to travel to nearby towns for entertainment. My first major risk was leaving home after graduating from high school. My family wasn’t particularly adventurous; they mostly settled into the small-town way of life or engaged in activities that didn’t interest me—some of which were dangerous and illegal, if you catch my drift. Nevertheless, the small-town environment influenced my marriage, and the restrictions I faced became intolerable. I wanted my children to take pride in their mother and to see her stand up for her beliefs.I left that marriage to build a better life for myself and my three kids. It was daunting, yet it turned out to be the best decision I’ve ever made. I discovered a passion for education and acquiring new skills. However, it wasn’t easy. No one in my family had attended college, so I often felt lost about what to do, which made me rely on the support of others. Trust was hard to establish because, growing up, I genuinely lost faith in humanity. But once I became a mother, my whole outlook on life transformed. I wanted my children to believe they could chase after anything they desired. Therefore, I needed to pursue my goals to demonstrate to them what hard work entails: sometimes it leads to failure, but those failures offer valuable lessons and can open up new opportunities. I realized I had to fundamentally change my mindset and life to raise my children differently. To sum up, I must highlight that the most considerable risk I undertook was opting to pursue a career in art at the age of 32 while attending college. This journey is inherently risky, yet I welcome challenges and do not fear the chance of failure.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Art has been a fundamental aspect of my life for as long as I can remember, though it was never a deliberate decision on my part. I had to let go of that passion because many family members claimed I didn’t have the talent that my twin sister had. This contributed to my choice to move out after finishing high school. However, in college, I found a revived interest in art classes. I was not only attracted to the studio courses but also keen to learn about the processes artists used to create their pieces. Throughout my journey, I explored the works of various artists spanning different centuries, from the Renaissance to modern times. This exploration ignited a desire within me to become a contributing artist in the world. Rather than competing with my peers, my aspiration has always been to stand alongside them as a collaborator and to be acknowledged in that context. My goal is to be recognized as one of the next great artists. Achieving greatness as an artist and gaining global recognition is a challenging journey, yet being acknowledged as an artist in Nashville has truly fulfilled me. I take great pride in being recognized as an artist in Nashville. My origins are in Tennessee, and succeeding in Nashville is a dream come true for me. My artwork serves as a mirror to my identity. I delve into my memories, crafting a complex tapestry of dreams through female figurative art and symbolism. I aim to forge connections with women who have navigated life without support and refuse to accept their circumstances. The fragmentation and colors in my pieces capture the emotions and challenges of embracing risks, while also illustrating how dedication can open doors to remarkable opportunities.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Nashville boasts an extensive array of fantastic activities. I would take a friend to visit The Parthenon located in Centennial Park, and we would explore local galleries such as COOP Gallery, Tinney Contemporary, David Lusk, Modfellows, Elephant Gallery, Red Arrow, Zeitgeist, and the Frist Art Museum. Engaging in all things art-related with my friends would be a priority. However, the culinary scene would be just as thrilling! I would introduce them to iconic spots like Puckett’s and Hattie B’s, as well as hidden gems like Ophelia’s, Common Ground, Urban Cowboy, Bobby’s, and The Red Bicycle, while also seeking out adventures downtown in the Arcade or down Printer’s Alley. I could continue to elaborate and possibly overwhelm my friends with all that Nashville has to offer. The possibilities for fun and new experiences are truly endless.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
A big thank you to my partner, Richard, who was the first to encourage me to pursue college and stood by me throughout that journey. I also want to give a special shout-out to Paul Collins. He was the first art professor who recognized my potential and later became my advisor and mentor during my college years. (While I have many professors to thank, he is the one who truly supported me the most.) Additionally, I want to express my gratitude to Arcade Arts for having faith in me and welcoming me into their artist residency program as one of the alumni artists. Without their support, I wouldn’t have had such a wonderful beginning to my artistic journey in Nashville.

Website: https://courtneygatewood.com

Instagram: courtneyartwork