Haley Gallery presents Language Is a Trick, an exhibition showcasing the works of American artist, art director, illustrator and puppeteer Wayne White. The exhibition will feature 20 new “word paintings” by White, in addition to sketches and abstracts from his notebook. White’s word paintings feature oversized, three-dimensional text imaginatively integrated into vintage landscape reproductions. Language Is a Trick harks back to an exhibition White held in Naples, Italy, in which he rendered the words in his paintings in Italian.

On Thursday, Oct. 5, the gallery will host a reception with White to celebrate the opening of the exhibition. The reception, which will take place between 5 and 9 p.m., will include a performance by Wayne White and his band, USERNAME PASSWORD, and is free and open to the public. Hatch Show Print’s Haley Gallery is located at 224 Rep. John Lewis Way South in Nashville.

Born and raised in Chattanooga, Wayne White has drawn upon 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 a designer for the hit CBS television show “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse,” which received Emmy recognition. He has also worked on music videos, 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 conveying humor in all aspects of his career. His most successful artworks have been his word paintings. The message of the word paintings is often thought-provoking and almost always humorous, with White’s creations commenting on vanity, ego and his memories of the South.

All work on view in Haley Gallery is available for purchase. Prices and details are available upon request.