For Nashville muralist Bryan Deese, art isn't just about color—it's about memory. "I'm a huge history buff. I like stories about unsung heroes, underground weirdos and forgotten tales," he says. Raised in Music City and still rooted in its evolving creative landscape, Deese uses public walls to bring overlooked narratives to life. "Being from Nashville and living through its rapid growth over the past decade is like living in a city you're visiting for the second time. You kind of know your way around and recognize some areas, but there's a lot of new stuff that wasn't here last time you rolled through. I dig the energy and try to ride the wave rather than fight it."
His journey started with graffiti. "Graffiti was everything I wanted in art as a kid. It's big. It's colorful. It happens quickly and comes with a bit of adventure," he says. "Graffiti is also a big typography playground… I never felt the need to outgrow graffiti. My art has blended with and been influenced by graffiti and design my whole life."
Spray paint remains his medium of choice. "It's fast and fun… The speed and expressive strokes make spray paint enjoyable," he says. And his training in graphic design continues to inform his work: "When I think about the composition of a mural, I approach it more as a designer than a painter. I like the graphic nature of my work. I love typography, so it's only natural that I incorporate it in my art."
Many of his murals begin with inspiration from site-specific research or personal memory. "They are usually things I've come across in my life, and they stick with me," he explains. "Probably my favorite reaction from a mural was when I was painting in Gallatin next to the skate park," Bryan remembers—the mural honors Ray Underhill Jr., Tennessee's first professional skateboarder. Ray passed away from cancer at a young age, but his family still lives in the area. "His father and stepmother came and visited me… The very next day, they returned. His stepmother had made me a sweet popcorn snack mix, and they brought me lots of memorabilia from Ray's skateboarding days. I still have Ray's professional headshot, which they gifted me, hanging on my wall."
His advice for those starting out in public art is simple: "There's nothing to it but to do it." And when it comes to balancing personal vision with public space, he stays true to himself: "I know I'm not gonna make everyone happy and I'm not trying."
From graffiti alleys behind Brown's Diner to the towering walls of the W Hotel, Bryan Deese is painting a version of Nashville that's vibrant, honest and unforgettable.
Bryan Deese
"With Street Art or murals, the advice I always give is, “There’s nothing to it but to do it.” It’s like anything in life: No one‘s gonna hand it to you. I recommend self-funding your first couple of murals so that people can see your style and artistic view. Also, you will have to figure out these new mediums, and you can only do that by physically painting one or two or three yourself. That’s why I like kids who come from the graffiti world. They already have that mentality built in. In that culture, you’re not waiting for someone to give you permission or encourage you. You just feel compelled to do it. Those kids learn a lot by painting in the streets, more than in a classroom."