The Nashville Clayscape

In the smartphone age, detailed maps that help us explore, consume, and rate the world around us are just a tap away. But the Nashville Clayscape shows that maps can also delight, inspire, and help us celebrate the communities around us.

Created by artist Tamara (Tammy) Gentuso and installed on the Clay Lady’s Campus, an art community in the Spence Lane area of Nashville, the Nashville Clayscape is a colorful monument to Nashville’s iconic locations. It also showcases neighborhood institutions, schools, and hidden gems. The map is made up of 192 individually crafted square-foot tiles and measures eight feet high by 25 feet wide and amounts to a literal ton of clay.

Alongside the landmarks, the map includes whimsical details—look for the compass rose and the balloon race—as well as anonymous homes that give a sense of the character of each neighborhood. The Clayscape is bordered by more than 160 tiles created by locals that highlight their own impressions of Nashville, whether portraits of their homes or other sites that inspire them.

Its bright colors and community spirit inspires visitors to explore the city and get to know its nooks and crannies.