CECA Tennessee Artist Fellowship

The CECA Tennessee Artist Fellowship was created to celebrate contemporary art, and to support the continued creative work of exceptional Tennessee artists. Unlike other fellowships, nominations and applications from artists are not solicited. A committee of APSU Art + Design faculty compiles a list of outstanding artists from across the state and selects the fellowship recipient. Through the generous support of the Center of Excellence in the Creative Arts (CECA), the selected artist receives $5,000 to aid in the creation of new artwork.

“Since APSU is the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts for the entire state of Tennessee, we wanted to find a way to support artists state-wide,” said Barry Jones, who was chair of the APSU Department of Art and Design at the time the fellowship was established. “There is an incredible amount of amazing artists here, but unfortunately there isn’t much financial support for them. We hope that this fellowship helps a Tennessee artist maintain their practice and to know that we support what they are doing.”

2025-2026 Recipient: Omari Booker

The Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts (CECA) at Austin Peay State University (APSU) has announced the 2025-26 Tennessee Artist Fellowship recipient, visual artist Omari Booker of Nashville.

Through this fellowship, Booker will receive $5,000 to create new artwork and additional funding to present a free artist lecture at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 12, at the Frist Art Museum in Nashville.

“Oil paintings are Omari’s predominant medium, but mixed media including charcoal, ink, and found objects are essential building blocks of his work and are used to create finished pieces,” Booker’s biography reads. “Large scale work has been a constant creative outlet for Omari, and murals have also become a consistent part of his creative practice. Storytelling in the form of poetry, prose, and children’s books are also creative outlets.”

The CECA Tennessee Artist Fellowship celebrates contemporary art and supports the continued creative work of exceptional Tennessee artists like Booker. Unlike other fellowships, nominations and applications from artists are not solicited. An APSU faculty committee compiles a list of outstanding artists from across the state and selects the fellowship recipient.

“The committee was incredibly pleased to select Omari as this year’s CECA Tennessee Artist Fellow,” said Dr. Wansoo Kim, an assistant professor in APSU’s Department of Art + Design. “His ongoing creative practice and stories have been a huge inspiration for the greater Nashville community. We hope that this fellowship provides more opportunities and support for his continuous artistic career.” Read more here.

Past Recipients