"Connect," 98" x 111"
Adrienne Outlaw is a social sculptor working at the intersection of ecological stewardship, collective authorship, and civic imagination. Her work transforms discarded materials into environments of care, reflection, and shared responsibility.
Joy functions as a deliberate strategy to counter social isolation and environmental despair, transforming paralysis into collective making and sustained attention. Grounded in material reuse and participatory systems, her practice engages people of all ages and abilities in reimagining waste as a site of responsibility, possibility, and care.
"Rise," 6' x 6' x 4'
Post-consumer plastic, steel, mirrored pedestal
Last year I made the work, Secret Garden, with @stlartmuseum visitors as part of the engagement activities during Art in Bloom.
To prepare for the work, I asked the community for their old paint, which people eagerly gave. When I picked it up, I often helped them clean out all of their old paint, regardless of its usability to me. I salvaged what I could to paint post consumer sheets of plastic, given to me by a local business.
For the event, we invited visitors to write their secrets on the strips of painted plastic and then roll them up and plant them "in the garden." I was amazed with how many people participated and how it ended up looking like a cityscape!
A year later I'm able to safely dispose of the old paint after letting it dry out in the studio. Thought I'd show photos of some of it because it's beautiful in its own way.
Fun fact: the first image shows my work across the sculpture hall from Anselm Kiefer's "Breaking of the Vessels." One of the most accomplished artists of our time, he has now taken over the Sculpture Hall and other areas of the museum with his "Becoming the Sea" exhibition--an absolute must see.
She's lit! You can now see the dome day or night through the window. Just visit @midtownalley
Thrilled to announce that I will be the featured artist @stlouisearthday festival! Mark your calendars for April 25th and 26th to take part in the annual event in Forest Park. The 2026 Earth Day theme is "Planet vs Plastics."
I will be showing a new version of the 10' x 17' geodesic dome covered in community collected, repurposed plastic bottle caps. For this iteration, the outside resembles St. Louis Earth mounds covered in grass and blooming flowers. The inside becomes more of a sacred space as sun light filters through the bottle caps, creating intricate shadow play on the ground and stained glass effects in the space. Throughout the weekend we'll have activities including yoga and meditation in the Dome.
If you want to get involved DM me!
@stlouisearthday executive director @jessicawwatson takes a moment to take in the experience.
Feeling grateful for the in-depth reporting by Koy Flores @wktvjournal. He did a great job of capturing what I'm doing. Thanks again to all the people who made this work possible. Hope you can take the time to read it!
#gvsuartmuseum
#GrandDome
#makewaves
#PlasticWastePublicArt
#publicart
Even as I'm rebuilding the dome in my St Louis studio to test new iterations of the work, I'm still reflecting on @artvillenash, which provided the opportunity to bring my work to Nashville! Thanks @nfocusmagazine and @carringtonnfox for the great coverage of the festival!
It was incredible working with @saturnsamantha and her team to bring the work to life. I still have a hard time believing how many people came out to help build it! 🙏 to all of you. Iykyk
At Friday night's party, I was also in awe of the transformation of Neuhoff complex. In 2009 its main claim to fame was Nashville Cultural Arts Project, which brought in such art world luminaries including Mel Chin and Shirin Nashat ❤️ among others. After a while their activity died down and so I approached them to bring Seed Space to life as a non profit that connected artists, writers and curators. We'd house our visiting artists there even though it was mostly still a slaughter house because the work there that Stephen McRedmon, along with his sisters Anita and Linda Sheridan, was amazing and they were incredible to work with. You can read more about how artists helped make Nashville in the fantastic and so fun to read book "Nowville: The Untold History of Nashville's Contemporary Art Scene" by @mightyjoenolan
To return to Nashville in 2025 and see the Neuhoff complex converted into such a magical space was an incredible experience. I'm so happy to continue helping Nashville thrive even as I live in St Louis!
Hope I get to return soon with more fun projects!
Thought I'd share a little bit more about why I do what I do.
Thanks so much to Straight Up Solar for this video. To see it in its entirety, search Adrienne Outlaw Strait Up Solar on YouTube. I'm partnering with them for new work in St. Louis. Stay in touch to stay informed!
Welcome to the aftermath. In early July I got two incredible opportunities to make large-scale participatory artworks with post-consumer plastics. The challenge: simultaneously work with hundreds of people across three states to collect and transform plastic waste into immersive artworks for social engagement. I am very happy to say we pulled it off - in no large part due to the hundreds of participants. I value each and every one of your contributions and can't wait to continue working with you on new work!
#riverdome
#granddome
#michigan
#tennessee
#missouri
#rivercities
#plasticreuse
#plasticsolutions
I got to take pictures of River Dome @artvillenash from a distance, across the street and inside a building. It really good is own! It was especially fun to see it next to the flowers.
After an incredibly fun week in Nashville with @artvillenash I'm back home and all unpacked. I was so happy to be greeted by a gift of caps on my door. Wish me luck getting it all cleaned up before I head back out to Michigan for the next installation. I am forever grateful to all the people who contributed to River Dome. 🙏❤️
Thank you to everyone who participated in making and experiencing River Dome @artvillenash this weekend! The weather is perfect, the people are so fun to meet and the art--all of it here-- is amazing!
Join @turnipgreencreativereuse for art making in the dome right now!
Today was such fun! Join us Sunday at 12:30 for Storytime with @abbyhoelscher and 3:30 for All Ages Yoga with @lorey_yoga in River Dome @artvillenash
#nashville
#nashvillekids
#yogalife
#yogainspiration
#publicart
#plasticsolutions
#riverdome
We launched @artvillenash by practicing yoga in the dome! Join us tomorrow at 11:30 & Sunday at 3:30 for a free yoga meditation class. Truly a beautiful experience with @lorey_yoga 🙏
River Dome is up! Thank you to all the people who helped--you came from as close as Nashville and as far away as Wales!
This piece is about what good we can do when we come together -- while specifically ecological stewardship -- more broadly about helping and connecting with each other. You showed up and made it happen. Thank you!!
We made the Dome with and for Nashville.
As a shelter, it is made to be used. Join us for the following free activities in the Dome throughout Artville:
Friday through Sunday
11:30 am Yoga/mediation with Lorey - all levels
(Sun @ 3:30)
12:30 pm Story time with Abby- all ages
3:30 pm Meet the Dome Artists
4:30 pm Story time with Abby- all ages
Special additional activities:
Saturday: 3 pm Q&A on How to secure a shelter of your dreams with a mortgage broker!
Sunday- 1:00 p.m. Creative art making with Abby from @turnipgreencreativereuse
Sunday - 3:30 Yoga/mediation with Lorey - all levels
📍 Music City Walk of Fame Park, Nashville
📅 Friday, September 26 – Sunday, September 28
🕒 Daily Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
🎟 Artville is Free and Open to the public — come explore public art installations, take photos, and vote for your favorite artist for the People’s Choice Award.
#Artville #Artville2025 #PublicArt #NashvilleEvents
@lorey_yoga
@percentmortgage
@abbyhoelscher.jpg
@artvillenash
@saturnsamantha
@charlottewalters
@dezhasworld
@lyn_goodrick
@foundhoney
@ziptiedomes
🎨 Excited to share the contributions of hundreds of people donating hundreds of thousands of caps to make River Dome as, made for and by Nashville.
Experience incredible public art, music, and community – all for free.
📍 Walk of Fame Park, Nashville
📅 Friday, September 26 – Sunday, September 28
🕒 Daily Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
✨ When you come down – Vote for your favorite artwork for the $2,500 People’s Choice Award — every vote counts!
#Artville #Artville2025 #PublicArt #NashvilleArt
Working hard to make ArtVille great! River Dome will be at the corner of the park. Make sure to visit! Friday - Sunday at the Walk of Fame Park.
Just a few of our panels for River Dome!
✨ You know you’re on the right track when so many people step up to make the work with you. Deep thanks to the Nashville community for shaping River Dome—from sorting caps to building panels, every hand leaves a mark.
🌊 Together, we’re turning plastic waste into joy, dialogue, and a place to gather.
📍 River Dome will premiere at @artvillenash Sept 26–28, Walk of Fame Park, downtown Nashville.
