NASHVILLE, TENN.- Nationally recognized artist Maura Wright, known for creating immersive installations that blend sculptural ceramics and historic ornament, has been selected as Cheekwood Estate & Gardens' 2026 Martin Shallenberger Artist-in-Residence.

Wright's practice centers on intricately crafted clay vessels and sculptural forms. Working primarily in earthenware, she draws inspiration from decorative arts history, domestic objects, and folk traditions. Her installations combine richly ornamented ceramics with painted environments that evoke frescoed interiors and decorative wall treatments, exploring the relationship between objects and the spaces they inhabit.

During her residency, Wright will draw inspiration from Cheekwood's decorative arts collections, Historic Mansion, and expansive gardens. Her research will inform a site-specific installation that responds to the estate's rich artistic and architectural heritage.

The residency will culminate with an exhibition on view in Cheekwood’s Mansion and Museum from August 1, 2026 until October 4, 2026.

"Maura's work beautifully bridges the worlds of decorative arts, architecture, and contemporary ceramics, making her an ideal fit for Cheekwood," said Sarah Sperling, Senior Vice President of Museum Affairs. "We are excited to support her creative exploration of our collections and landscapes and to share the resulting installation with our visitors."





“I’m so excited to be at Cheekwood,” said Maura Wright. “Working at the incredible estate and alongside the beautiful gardens is a gift filled with endless inspiration."

Maura Wright

Wright received her MFA from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 2018 and her BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute in 2013. Her work has been exhibited at galleries and institutions across the United States and has been featured in Architectural Digest, Surface Magazine, Curbed, and Dwell, where her distinctive approach to contemporary ceramics and decorative form has drawn national attention.

Martin Shallenberger Artist-in-Residence Series

The Martin Shallenberger Artist-in-Residence series is an initiative focused on bringing national and international artists to Nashville. The residency enables artists to create and exhibit site-specific works at Cheekwood, while allowing for the opportunity to interact with staff, visitors, and the larger community. The program provides living arrangements and a stipend for the artist during the multi-week residency.

Past Artist-in-Residence participants include Tamara Kostianovsky, Sarah Nguyen, Craig Black, Hiroshi Sato, Gabriel Dawe and Soo Sunny Park.