Memphis is a city that exudes creativity and stands for artistic excellence. Present Tense: The Art of Memphis from 2001 – Now captures the energy and diversity of the city's contemporary art scene from 2001 to the present. Featuring over 100 works by more than seventy Memphis-area artists selected by guest curator John Weeden, Present Tense reveals the spark of creativity that makes our city such a vibrant and fascinating place to visit and to live.

Outdoor sculpture, video and installation pieces, photography, oil on canvas and a range of sculptural and three-dimensional works from established artists such as Greely Myatt, Hamlett Dobbins, Nancy Cheairs, NJ Woods, Dolph Smith and Pinkney Herbert as well as next generation of notable newcomers will all be on display in one place—The Dixon. The exhibition will fill the galleries, residence, and gardens with outstanding examples of varied contemporary art practices found in our city since the turn of the millennium. The works in Present Tense mark the seminal events in the artistic Renaissance that has taken place in Memphis over the past decade.

Never before has the Dixon had the ability to interact with this many local artists and their respective voices at one time. Now is the chance to join in on the conversation by meeting your favorite local artist and discovering the work of another through related educational programming. Present Tense is an opportunity for visitors to examine the role of the visual arts in Memphis and the larger cultural conversation being held in the United States today.