This permanent installation in the museum’s lobby area spotlights the significant achievement of local and regional artists over the past century, punctuated by significant works by artists of national and international reputation. Artists represented range from such important early-twentieth-century figures as Catherine Wiley, a noted American Impressionist, to pioneering African-American artist Joseph Delaney. Paintings by members of the “Knoxville Seven” document mid-century efforts to bring modern art styles to East Tennessee. More recent accomplishments are represented by a group of outstanding assemblages by visionary “outsider” artist Bessie Harvey and recent works by such notable artists currently active in the region as Julie Warren Conn, Richard Jolley, and Andrew Saftel. Providing the broader context of recent developments on the national scene are works by Tomory Dodge, Alison Moritsugu, Stuart Netsky, Carolyn Plochmann, William Wiley, and others.

Light-sensitive works on paper from the collection are exhibited as special exhibitions on a rotating basis in the galleries, where light levels are more easily controlled.