Introducing Jessica Eichman, a Nashville-based artist known for her captivating abstract paintings. With a background in both 2D and 3D art, including a permanent steel sculpture in Hermitage Park, Jessica continuously explores ways to blend symbolic imagery and textiles into her paintings. Rooted in a philosophy of mindfulness and connection, her work reflects a deep sense of awareness and the beauty of letting go. Whether collaborating with fellow artists or contributing to the local art scene, Jessica’s creative practice is all about authenticity and inspiring thoughtful conversations. You can find Jessica’s art around the Ampersand Studios Nashville Member’s Lounge and hallways.
Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Jessica Eichman, and I am a practicing artist in Nashville. My work primarily takes the form of abstract painting, though I have also worked in 3D (I have a permanent steel sculpture in Hermitage Park in Nashville). In recent years I have been exploring ways to incorporate symbolic imagery and textiles into my paintings.
What could you never live without?
Love! I believe that living a full life involves enjoying our time on earth with people who are important to us. Connection is key. For me, this involves nurturing healthy relationships and having fun with people I love. Close friends and family are essential, as are extended communities and the overarching collectives that we are all part of. I also have a number of regular practices that keep me balanced in myself and able to show up for others. These include yoga, long walks in the woods, intuitive ritual work, and art!
At what age did you realize you wanted to be an artist / creator?
I have always had a creative practice. I was fortunate to be born into a family of artists, and was encouraged to make things from a very young age. After earning a degree in art, I made my way into a career in graphic design, and moved into painting from there.
What inspires you?
I am inspired by the act of paying attention. Being aware of my internal and external worlds helps me to notice big and little things that may easily be lost in the blur of the daily grind. Certain things stand out or bubble to the surface, especially when I am quiet in nature. Things like a meaningful phrase, symbol, or some insight. I am always on the lookout for synchronicity—things that like to happen together—like if you dream about a green snake and then you see a green snake that day, or you think of someone and then they text you.
My work is a reflection of my general philosophy of life, which is basically: Show up and pay attention. By living life with awareness, an intentional life happens. Through the act of painting, the painting happens. It is a balance of control and surrender. If there is an overarching theme to my work, then it is about letting go; letting go of expectations, rules, desire, and fear. It requires a leap of faith, a willingness to fail, and a belief that the simple act of mixing paint and slathering it onto a canvas will eventually turn into something meaningful.
When we witness someone else’s authentic experience, we can relate more deeply to our own experience. Art helps us develop compassion for different ways of being in the world, and ultimately develop more compassion for ourselves. I like to think of my work as documentation of what my reality feels like for me.
What project do you have coming up next?
Lately I have been working on some exciting collaborations with other artists. My dear friend and fellow artist/traveler Sarah Dark and I have formed a creative duo that we call Subject Matter (Instagram @subjectmttr). Inspired by our shared experiences on pilgrimage journeys in Europe and the UK, we are making a series of large-scale paintings that combine intuitive mark-making with symbolic imagery from our journeys. We have also been working with artist Cary Gibson (under the name We Three) on an extensive textile-based collaboration driven by the cycles of the moon and concepts of women’s work.
I have several other exciting things coming up as well. I recently created four paintings for an upcoming book by Murfreesboro author, Charles Thomas. His book, Love Too Much, will be coming out later this year. One of my works was recently added to the Nashville Public Library collection, and will soon be available to check out, so I am excited to see that in action. Also looking forward to a couple of exciting group shows with the Contemporary Collective of Nashville—this fall at the Murfreesboro Center for the Arts, and next year at the Clarksville Art Museum.
What excites you about the future of your industry?
The thing that excites me about the future of art is the same thing that excites me about the next generation of young people. Collectively, we have had some rough years recently, and there is a lot to worry about in the world. Watching how young people are evolving to meet the challenges that we all face gives me great hope for the future. Artists reflect the world back to us, and we can all learn a lot from each other.
What advice would you give to up-and-coming artists or kids who dream to become artists one day?
My advice would be to trust the tiny voice that is calling you to experiment with media or imagery that is interesting to you. Play. Find out what creates energy in you, and use that to fuel your own artistic voice. Don’t worry about how your art is judged by an audience or a marketplace, just focus on whether it feels authentic to you. When you are pushing your art into areas that feel unknown and a little uncomfortable, you know you are on the right track. Keep going.
What are ways that you give back to the Nashville community?
I am a longtime yoga practitioner, and last spring I was trained to teach yoga. I have been enjoying offering free yoga classes, and I hope to keep doing that. I am also exploring ways that I can make connections between yoga, art, travel, and nature, and possibly partnering with others to offer retreats or workshops. Stay tuned for that!
Tell us a little bit more about your muse?
There is a quote by feminist poet Adrienne Rich that I find myself returning to regularly: “There is no “the truth,” “a truth” — truth is not one thing, or even a system. It is an increasing complexity.”
This way of thinking invites us to move beyond dualistic thinking and to become curious and comfortable with uncertainty. Simplifying our world into binaries is an understandable way to attempt to comprehend a mysterious and baffling existence. But we are capable of holding infinite complexity in ourselves, and we can choose to see it in others. Within this context, everything becomes inspiration—a little worm on the sidewalk, a chance encounter with a stranger, an abandoned shoe on the side of the road, an overheard snippet of conversation, a found object, an animal sighting in the woods, a coincidence…all these things that surround and bind us together. This flow is what fuels my work.
Thoughtful abstract compositions invite creative thinking and more meaningful interactions with others. By showing up and being present to my own artistic practice, I feel connected to an authenticity that is bigger than myself. By sharing my work with others, I hope to inspire conversation that goes beyond image.
Where can people connect with you?
I am on Instagram @jessicaeichman and my website is jessicaeichman.com.
