Wayne White, a multifaceted American artist, art director, illustrator, puppeteer, and more, was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he drew inspiration from his Southern upbringing to create innovative works for film, television, and the fine art world.
After graduating from Middle Tennessee State University, Wayne traveled to New York City, where he worked as an illustrator for prominent publications such as the East Village Eye, New York Times, Raw Magazine, and the Village Voice.
In 1986, Wayne joined the design team for the hit television show Pee-wee's Playhouse, earning three Emmy Awards for his work. This success led him to move to Los Angeles with his wife, Mimi Pond, where he continued to work in television, designing sets and characters for shows like Shining Time Station, Beakman's World, Riders In The Sky, and Bill & Willis.
Wayne's talent extended to the music video industry, where he won Billboard and MTV Music Video Awards as an art director for iconic music videos, including The Smashing Pumpkins' 'Tonight, Tonight' and Peter Gabriel's 'Big Time'.
As a fine artist, Wayne has achieved great success, creating paintings and public works exhibited worldwide. His signature works feature oversized, three-dimensional text intricately integrated into vintage landscape reproductions, often with thought-provoking and humorous messages that critique vanity, ego, and his memories of the South.
Recent public works have garnered significant praise, including a show at Rice University, where he constructed the world's largest George Jones puppet head for his piece 'Big Lectric Fan To Keep Me Cool While I Sleep'.
In 2009, Wayne's life and career were chronicled in a comprehensive 382-page monograph, edited by Todd Oldham, featuring hundreds of images spanning his earliest work as an illustrator to his most recent fine art sculptures.
Since the book's release, Wayne has been touring the country, delivering an engaging hour-long talk that showcases his life and work, accompanied by his banjo and harmonica playing skills.
