The wings mural at 302 11th Avenue South is Nashville’s most photographed piece of public art and arguably the single image most associated with the city on social media. Artist Kelsey Montague painted it in April 2016 as part of her international “What Lifts You” campaign. The mural stands 20 feet high and depicts intricate white lace wings on a black wall. Montague spent approximately a week on the work, using 60 paint pens and a large boom lift to reach the upper sections.
The concept behind the campaign is participatory: you stand in the wings and the photo makes it appear you are wearing them. This interactive format was intentional from the start, as Montague has stated her goal is to give people a moment of joy and prompt reflection on the question the mural poses. The wings are detailed enough that close examination reveals Nashville-specific elements worked into the design: cowboy hats, guitars, and barbecue grills are embedded in the lace pattern.
The mural was sponsored by MarketStreet Enterprises, the development firm that spearheaded the Gulch revitalization. At the bottom right corner of the mural, Montague added a miniature set of wings scaled for children and dogs. This was a late addition decided on-site.
How to see it with less waiting: Lines form at this mural, particularly on Saturday and Sunday afternoons when they can stretch for 20 to 30 minutes. Go before 9am or after 7pm on weekdays for effectively no wait. Early weekend mornings also work. The surrounding area on 11th Avenue South has good coffee at Killebrew (in the Thompson Hotel, one block north) and several shops that make the neighborhood worth wandering regardless of the line.
One street art note for context: several other Kelsey Montague wings installations exist across Nashville. The “What Lifts You Rainbow” version is at 601 9th Avenue South, still within the Gulch boundary. The most famous mural is sometimes confused with the Taylor Swift-themed wings that briefly appeared in Nashville before being removed. Those were separate.
Sources
- Kelsey Montague Art, “Nashville WhatLiftsYou Wings,” kelseymontagueart.com
- Visit Nashville TN, “What Lifts You Wings Mural,” visitmusiccity.com
- TripAdvisor, What Lifts You Mural reviews, tripadvisor.com
- Nashville Public Art blog, nashvillepublicart.com
- Travel by Brit, “20 Popular Nashville Murals,” travelbybrit.com