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WILLIAM DOWNS

October 26 – December 12, 2024

FIRST FRIDAY OPENINGS
NOVEMBER 1 | 5-9PM
DECEMBER 6 | 5-9PM

William Downs’ artwork explores themes of ambiguity and distortion viewed through repetition and representation of the human body. His drawings reveal “feelings of anxiety, fear, joy, angst” or desire with compositions inspired by Cezanne that appear dream-like or otherworldly. He often depicts “people who train their bodies to do inhuman things like run a marathon or bend and contort their bodies,” in surreal-like, panoramic scenes. Multiple figures are layered with warped perspective, creating contrasting areas of compositional ambiguity and sharp focus.

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Welcome!

The UT Downtown Gallery is a contemporary art gallery, exhibiting professional work through funding and support in-part from The University of Tennessee, the Arts and Cultural Alliance, Knox County, the Department of the Treasury, and generous donations. Financial gifts to the UT Downtown Gallery support the operations, programming, community engagement, and exhibitions of the gallery.

We are located at 106 S. Gay Street in Knoxville, Tennessee next door to the Arts and Cultural Alliance in the Emporium Building.

As part of Knoxville’s First Friday events, the gallery is open from 5-9pm on the first Friday of every month.

All exhibitions and events at the UT Downtown Gallery are free and open to the public.