In a ceremony today in Nashville’s Gulch area, veteran advertising and marketing executive Shari Day unveiled a new name, new look and new ambitions for one of the city’s founding agencies. With Day, president and CEO, at the helm, bohan is now Artists&Outlaws. The independent full-service agency’s commitment to delivering end-to-end advertising and marketing campaigns remains unchanged.
The name change coincides with the three-year anniversary of Day acquiring ownership of the agency on Oct. 31, 2022.
“As we mark 35 years in this industry, we’ve outgrown our building and our name,” Day said. “Today marks our first chapter as Artists&Outlaws, a name that reflects the creative expertise we’re known for and the boundary-breaking approach we’re proud of. Our steadfast commitment to our clients remains at the heart of everything we do.”
Artists&Outlaws’ new look, displayed in a Helvetica Bold font, features a timeless black and gold color palette that lends itself to the outlaw aesthetic. The healthy tension between business and artistry was the jumping off point for the name. “Artists&Outlaws represents both sides of the coin that each of us brings to our work and to the creative process,” Day added. Phrases like “creating connects us” and “appreciate the process” speak to the heart of an artist. In turn, “dare to disrupt,” along with secondary design touches like redaction bars and other “easter eggs” in the agency’s portfolio, lean into the spirit of an outlaw.
Day joined the agency in 2010 and was named president/CEO in 2015. She is a board member for the American Association of Advertising Agencies, the industry’s leading trade organization. Day represents the Southern region, and her advocacy plays an active role in shaping and supporting the organization’s initiatives, helping to guide and advance the advertising and marketing communications community. Her 37-year career includes work with a broad range of clients including Ascension Saint Thomas Health, Dollar General, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, the University of Tennessee Medical Center, AAA East Tennessee, Sea Ray Boats, Azimut Yachts and Boston Whaler.
“As brand building experts, we’re always evaluating our own ethos and how we present in the business landscape,” Day said. “I can say without doubt that I and each of my team members have the heart of an artist and the spirit of an outlaw, and it’s reflected in our respective disciplines. Artists&Outlaws is more than a name for us. It’s an encapsulation of how we approach every project for every client.”
In June, Day guided the agency’s reunion with one of its most prominent clients, Ascension Saint Thomas Health, for the relaunch of the successful “Nothing Shall Be Impossible” campaign. The pair collaborated on the original campaign, a reflection of the Tennessee-based health system's "faith, healing, and clinical expertise,” and garnered Modern Healthcare's Agency of the Year Award in 2015.
In this new chapter, Day also identified talent acquisition as an immediate focus. Angie Roby, most recently with Dentsu International, joined Artists&Outlaws earlier this month as group account director. Having worked with T-Mobile, Chevron, Carter’s and other global brands, Roby is the first new hire under the Artists&Outlawsname, galvanizing Day’s plans to recruit top talent to expand internal ranks.
Day’s most recent expansion of the agency’s footprint was Fresh Consumables, a content production studio, which was introduced in January 2024. Fresh Consumables supports brands in quick-turn, high-volume digital asset and content production.
Artists&Outlaws and Fresh Consumables will relocate to new office space later this year.
Under Day’s leadership, the agency’s gross advertising revenue exceeded $14.1 million last year. With more than 80 employees, Artists&Outlaws’ client roster spans various business verticals, including healthcare, travel, entertainment, retail, spirits, and restaurants.