Big Ears presents Wayne White: Big Words

March 7-30, 2025
Big Ears presents Wayne White: Big Words
Opening reception: Friday, March 7, 5:00-9:00 PM
Gallery hours: Monday-Friday 9 AM – 5 PM, Saturday 10 AM – 1 PM with additional  public hours: Tue Mar 11, 6-9 PM; Fri Mar 14, 9 AM – 7 PM; Fri Mar 28, 9 AM – 7 PM; Sat Mar 29, 9 AM – 5 PM; and Sun Mar 30, 9 AM – 5 PM

Born and raised in Chattanooga, Wayne White has used his memories of the South to create inspired works for film, television and the fine art world. After graduating from Middle Tennessee State University, White traveled to New York City where he worked as an illustrator for the East Village Eye, The New York Times, Raw Magazine and The Village Voice. In 1986, he became an Emmy-winning designer for his work on the hit television show “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse.” He has also worked in the music video industry, winning Billboard and MTV Music Video awards as an art director for seminal music videos, including the Smashing Pumpkins’ “Tonight, Tonight” and Peter Gabriel’s “Big Time”.

For almost 40 years, White has been unleashing humor in all aspects of his career. His most successful artworks have been his word paintings, which feature oversized, three-dimensional text painstakingly integrated into vintage landscape reproductions. The message of the paintings is often thought-provoking and almost always humorous, with White commenting on vanity, ego and his memories of the South.

Instagram @waynewhiteart

This exhibition is one of four special exhibitions of visual art on display in downtown Knoxville during the month of March as part of the Big Ears 2025 festival weekend (March 27-30): bigearsfestival.org