Wayne White: Revenge of the Knoxville Girl

Wayne White: Revenge of the Knoxville Girl Wayne White is a multi-faceted artist, illustrator, and musician who has charted a kaleidoscopic path through multiple frontiers of art and culture. From early life in Chattanooga and Emmy award-winning work as Art Director for Pee Wee’s Playhouse, to orchestrating music videos for Peter Gabriel and The Smashing Pumpkins, White traverses the pop culture landscape. The Revenge of the Knoxville Girl is an eclectic survey show that convenes an array of White’s Word Paintings, sketchbooks, small sculpture, and papier-mâché heads. It will also feature a monumentally scaled pair of puppets that provide a stage for the beleaguered Knoxville Girl of murder ballad notoriety to return and stand triumphant. This show is presented in collaboration with the Big Ears Festival and is part of the 2026 edition of the Tennessee Triennial. Artist Bio: Wayne White is an American artist, art director, illustrator, & puppeteer. Born and raised in Chattanooga, Wayne 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, Wayne traveled to New York City where he worked as an illustrator for the East Village Eye, New York Times, Raw Magazine, and the Village Voice. In 1986, Wayne became a designer for the hit television show Pee-wee’s Playhouse, and his work was awarded with three Emmys. After traveling to Los Angeles with his wife, Mimi Pond, Wayne continued to work in television and designed sets and characters for shows such as Shining Time Station, Beakman’s World, Riders In The Sky, and Bill & Willis. He 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.’ Since 2000, Wayne has shown his paintings, sculptures and installations in over 40 exhibitions worldwide. His work was chronicled in the Todd Oldham designed 2009 monograph, “Maybe Now I’ll Get The Respect I So Rightfully Deserve”. In 2012, he was the subject of the documentary “Beauty is Embarrassing” His children, Woodrow and Lulu, are both working artists. Mimi and Wayne live in LA and make art every day. This exhibition is made possible thanks to the generous support of: Aslan Foundation Ashley Capps & Dr. Maria Birgit Clark Susan & Jay Bush Marga & Jay McBride Jacque and Cliff Hawks Caesar Stair IV ands Cecilia Stair Dr. Marilyn Kallet and Dr. Louis Gross Downtown Knoxville Alliance WDVX This project is also made possible by The Aslan Foundation.       In Partnership with: