Inspiring the World with Art while Empowering Great Artists to Succeed

We want to inspire the world with art. We believe in great artists right now, and help them succeed. Chauvet Arts is the premier source for distinctive artwork in the American South. We represent top local and regional artists, focusing on the styles, stories, and character that make this region so authentic and unique. Our mission is to empower artists and ignite greatness in all of us.

CHAUVET Arts - What’s in the Name:

Most gallery’s names are eponymous with the owner or founder. We knew from the beginning that it takes more than one to make a successful art company. We also wanted to honor the ancient tradition and importance of art. CHAUVET Arts is named after the Chauvet cave in southern France, home to the some of most ancient visual art known to have been created by humans. Even though the cave's earliest paintings are at least 32,0000 years old, they are as sophisticated as much later artwork and inspire the human potential with their mystery, beauty and power.

 

We chose the name Chauvet Arts as a testament to the power and longevity of art and the innate potential we have as humans to create.

Origin Story:

Jorge Arrieta grew up with a wonderful imagination, creating stories, playing in the forests of Tennessee, and surrounded by art. He watched his parents struggle with money following their passion, creating art. Later Jorge pursued art and design and found himself in a similar position as his parents - finding it difficult to make ends meet but not wanting to give up. Jorge believing in the power of art to breathe life in the world decided to exhibit the top artists in the region and help them continue to create by selling their art and so CHAUVET Arts was created. “We want to inspire the world with art. You need great artists to have great art. We believe in exceptional artists right now, and want to help them succeed. Being around distinctive art opens you up and expands your spirit and we want to do it in a positive way. Art can do that for you.” 

Gallery, Building & Street History:

CHAUVET Arts is located in two historic buildings with over 4,000 square feet in the heart of Downtown Nashville. The buildings, built in 1889 and 1910, are part of the Historic Nashville Registrar and are protected by the city. We share the space with GHP Environmental Architecture, a firm that has been instrumental in preserving the city’s historic buildings. 

 

The first floor used to house Skalowski’s Ice Cream Parlor, known as “the Cadillac of ice cream parlors.” Polish immigrant Maurice Skalowski opened the shop in 1908. He designed the ice cream parlor himself using mosaic tile floors, solid mahogany woodwork and finished it off with an onyx soda fountain, said to be the largest ever built at that time.

 

The buildings have historically been creative spaces. The second floor was a photography studio, while the 3rd floor functioned as a dance academy with several rehearsal spaces and a grand ballroom. With the help of GHP, we have worked hard to maintain as many original features of the building as possible, such as the grand staircase, hardwood floors, and section of black and white marble tile in the main gallery. We have also incorporated modern design throughout the buildings. Our goal is to preserve the history while also looking to the future to create an inspiring environment for everyone who visits. 

 

CHAUVET Arts is located in the downtown arts district on 5th Avenue of the Arts. The street was recently renamed Rep. John Lewis Way honor of the late congressman and civil rights activist.

Chauvet Cave:

CHAUVET Arts is named after the Chauvet cave in southern France, home to the some of most ancient visual art known to have been created by humans. The full name of the cave is Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave which is a bridge arc. Even though the cave's earliest paintings are at least 32,0000 years old, they are as sophisticated as much later artwork and inspire the human potential with their mystery, beauty and power.

 

From at least around 21,000 years ago onwards until its rediscovery in 1994 CE, the Chauvet Cave was completely sealed off to visitors due to the entrance having collapsed. Numerous and diverse animals line the interior walls of the cave - some painted and others engraved. The art’s age and artistry have made specialist reconsider the story of art as well as the capabilities of these humans.

There are hundreds of paintings and engravings in the Chauvet Cave, ranging from geometric forms of red dots on the walls, to handprints, to more than 420 animal representations. In the majority are animals that were not hunted, such as lions, rhinoceroses, and bears, which is interesting because from the succeeding period onward preferences tended to be reversed, with the focus lying on prey animals. Chauvet also stands out for its use of sophisticated techniques such as wall scraping, stump-drawing, and depicting perspective, which are otherwise not as abundantly represented in prehistoric cave art.

CHAUVET Arts | 215 Rep. John Lewis Way N | Nashville, TN 37219 | Art@ChauvetArts.com | 615. 278. 9086

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