Knoxville Museum of Art
Regional historical and contemporary art surrounds Richard Jolley’s enormous glass installation, while changing exhibitions connect Knoxville makers to wider American movements.
Artwork inspired by Catherine Wiley
Higher Ground recovers artists shaped by East Tennessee rather than treating the region as scenery alone. Jolley’s Cycle of Life then shifts from landscape to immersive glass architecture, making light, craft, industry, and human narrative occupy the same room.
Begin with Higher Ground so the local lineage is clear before entering the Jolley installation. The museum is compact enough for close looking; use the World’s Fair Park setting to compare the building’s measured geometry with the spectacle inside.
- Higher Ground
- Artists rooted in East Tennessee
- Cycle of Life
- Monumental glass installation
- World’s Fair Park view
- Architecture faces the park
Quick guide
- First move
- At Knoxville Museum of Art, begin with Higher Ground: Regional historical and contemporary art surrounds Richard Jolley’s enormous glass installation, while changing exhibitions connect Knoxville makers to wider American movements.
- Second look
- Cycle of Life: Higher Ground recovers artists shaped by East Tennessee rather than treating the region as scenery alone.
Build the visit around three specific anchors
- Start with
- Higher Ground: Regional historical and contemporary art surrounds Richard Jolley’s enormous glass installation, while changing exhibitions connect Knoxville makers to wider American movements.
- Look closely at
- Cycle of Life: Higher Ground recovers artists shaped by East Tennessee rather than treating the region as scenery alone.
- Connect the story
- World’s Fair Park view: East Tennessee art with a room-sized glass heartbeat.
- Plan around
- Begin with Higher Ground so the local lineage is clear before entering the Jolley installation.
Good to know
Knoxville Museum of Art: the museum is compact enough for close looking; use the World’s Fair Park setting to compare the building’s measured geometry with the spectacle inside.
Notice these
- Higher Ground
- Cycle of Life
- World’s Fair Park view