The museum made the announcement Wednesday and said it will begin the process of choosing her replacement.
Edwards was the second leader of the art museum, which first opened in April 2001. She had led the organization since 2004.
“Dr. Edwards has elevated Nashville’s museum in ways we could only imagine in our early days,” Frist Art Museum Chairman Billy Frist said in a press release. “Not only has she made the presentation of the visual arts and discourse surrounding them diverse and accessible during her time at the museum, she also changed lives and Nashville in the process.
During Edwards’ tenure, the museum was awarded accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums, according to the release.