Coming to the COOP!
COOP Gallery presents: Faith, Fraud, and Fear by artist Bill Brimm
COOP Gallery will present Faith, Fraud, and Fear, a solo exhibition by Nashville artist Bill Brimm, from February 7 through February 28, 2026. The exhibition features assemblages, digital still lifes, and music-inspired digital collages that explore the intersections of religion, power, and contemporary social issues. A reception will take place on the opening day from 1 p.m to 9 p.m., with an artist walkthrough scheduled for 5 p.m.
At the center of the exhibition is a seven-foot-tall wooden cross constructed from 34 rat traps. The work anchors the exhibition’s recurring focus on entrapment, a theme Brimm returns to throughout the show. Rat traps appear across multiple works, reflecting feelings of political, social, and personal constraint. Brimm has described the exhibition as “fear hanging on the walls,” a phrase that captures the work’s stirring undercurrent.
Brimm’s work confronts a wide range of American flashpoints, including abortion, gun violence, global warming, and bigotry. In An American Portrait (2022), plywood, laser-cut wooden rifles, and shooting targets collide in a stark reflection on national identity and normalized violence.
While the subject matter often conveys anger or grief, the exhibition is balanced by moments of humor and restraint. Rather than prescribing conclusions, Brimm’s work encourages viewers to reflect on how belief systems and structures of authority affect individuals and communities.
This exhibition marks Brimm’s first presentation at COOP and a return to a solo exhibition in Nashville. Born and raised in the city, Brimm grew up in a conservative Southern Baptist family and was influenced early on by the stained glass windows of his church. Broader historical events, including the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Vietnam War, also left lasting impressions on his work.
Brimm earned a Bachelor of Science in Art from Middle Tennessee State University and co-owned Emmanuel Stained Glass Studio, Inc. For 37 years, Emmanuel Stained Glass Studio produced commissioned stained-glass works, described as “a blend of traditional techniques with his evolving artistic vision”, for churches while maintaining an independent practice. He later owned the Bryant Gallery in East Nashville from 2009 to 2013. Since retiring from stained glass in 2019, Brimm has worked from his East Nashville home studio.
COOP, a curatorial collective dedicated to presenting contemporary art outside the constraints of the retail market, provides a fitting context for Faith, Fraud, and Fear. The exhibition invites viewers to consider complex subjects with attention and care, and to reflect on the role of fear, belief, and power in everyday life.
For more information on Faith, Fraud and Fear, visit http://coopgallery.org or email [email protected].
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Nastassja is a Hong Kong native who called Boston home for 7 years. She graduated with a BS in Journalism from Emerson College and is currently located in Fort Smith, Arkansas. When she isn’t writing or reading, you can find her crocheting and spending time with her husband, dog, and two cats.
