Wayne White

Wayne White (b. 1957) is an American artist, art director, illustrator, and puppeteer. Born and raised in Chattanooga, White uses his memories of the South to create works for film, television, and the fine art world. White began his visual art career in New York City, working as an illustrator for the East Village Eye, New York Times, Raw Magazine, and the Village Voice. In 1986, the artist began designing for Pee-wee's Playhouse, for which he won three Emmys. In his subsequent move to Los Angeles, White continued to work in television, designing characters and sets for Shining Time Station, Beakman's World, Riders In The Sky, and Bill & Willis.

Now, White focuses on his painting career, showing work nationally and internationally. His earlier paintings on mass-produced lithograph images from second-hand thrift stores drew comparison to Ed Ruscha, as White painted trompe l'oeil phrases that appeared to jump out of the pre-made image. The works are thought-provoking and humorous, drawing from his memories of the South to point the finger at vanity and ego.

Now, White is shifting his practice in a new direction, painting his own backgrounds instead of using found images. While he continues his "Wayne-ism" word paintings--affective oddball phrases like UH I'M LOOKING FOR THE ARCHAIC CAVE OF THE SUBCONCIOUS. IS THAT AROUND HERE?--the artist also turns inward, painting snapshots of his time creating the aesthetics of widely watched television shows that influenced generations of creatives.