Xavier Payne (better known as XPayne) is an award-winning artist and illustrator. Born in Flint, Michigan and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Payne earned a BFA from Watkins college of Art Design and Film in 2014. He began his professional career as a graphic artist working for companies with clients like Target, Walgreens and Wal-Mart. At the same time, XPayne moon-lighted as an illustrator working for cuktural icons like Spike Lee and Issa Rae, and gaining and support from the likes of Wesley Snipes and Martin Lawrence. In 2022, XPayne was named Best Artist of the Year by the Nashville Scene, where he is based.

Today, XPayne works on large scale projects that add life to businesses and inspirational spaces for individuals in their homes. His work is characterized by bold colors, organic shapes and patterns, and powerful, whimsical characters in fantasy settings. Conceptually, XPayne's is at the intersection of 90s aesthetics, Afro-fantasy, and Pop Art. He believes that imagination is the foundation for growth and change. He has had work that was featured in the Source Magazine, and on HBO, and has worked for Coca-Cola, Clarks Shoes. He has been part of many exhibitions including the Frist Art Museum in Nashville and in Webster Hall in New York City.

XPayne creates an aesthetic throgh a range of techniques that combine drawing, illustration, and painting. These works explore nostalgic pop culture moments to build community around those who are familiar with the various television and film subjects. XPayne's most well known series are from his pop series that exalt 90s media that was inspirational to hhim.

His works also explore mythology and story-telling. After studying African dieties known as Orisha, XPayne creeated a series that helped his work transisiton to explolring mythology and narrative world-building. These works create icons that analyze America's class structure and empower viewers through the inspirations behind them. these works have a flat, simplified  and colorful aestheic that create stylized world unique to XPayne.

Curriculum Vitae

Selected Solo Exhibitions
2023
Past Present, & Afrofuturism. OZ Arts Nashville. Nashville, TN.
Collections from Ecosystem & Past Present, & Afrofuturism. Patterson Park Art Gallery. Murfreesboro, TN.
2022
Past, Present, and Afrofuturism. Cë Gallery. Nashville, TN.
2018
Poppingstein. Garden Brunch Cafe. Nashville, TN.
2017
Unititled Exhibiton. Belcourt Theater. Nashville, TN.
Blacknificent. Watkins Art Gallery. Nashville, TN.
Blacktastic. Houston Station. Nashville, TN.
Lil’ Heroes. The Post East. Nashville, TN.
2015
Places Elsewhere & Royal Jubilation. Art History Class. Nashville, TN.
2014
It Could Be So Simple. Blend Studio. Nashville, TN.

Selected Group Exhibitions
2023
Artville Murals. Nashville, TN.
Artville Art Show. Nashville Warehouse Co. Nashville, TN.
Here We Are Now. Todd Art Gallery, Middle Tennessee State University. Murfreesboro, TN.
Group Show #2. Cë Gallery Merritt Mansion. Nashville, TN.
Cross Country: A Visual Experience. National Museum of African American Music. Nashville, TN.
Black Arts Bash 2023. Cheekwood Estate & Gardens. Nashville, TN.
2022
Black Arts Bash 2022. Cheekwood Estate & Gardens. Nashville, TN.
2019
Nashville Visionaries. Hiram Van Gordon Gallery, Elliott Hall. Nashville, TN.
North Nashville Now! Frist Art Museum. Nashville, TN.
February Jefferson St. Art Crawl. Woodcuts Gallery & Framing. Nashville, TN.
2018
Vanguard Art Show: Black History Project 2. Track One. Nashville, TN.
2Pac Art Immersion. Elephant Gallery. Nashville, TN.
2017
Xavier Payne & Brandon Van Leer: Guardians of the Culture. Hiram Van Gordon Gallery, Elliott Hall. Nashville, TN.

Speaking Engagements
2023
Middle Tennessee Scholastic Art Awards (Ceremony Speaker). Cheekwood Estate & Gardens. Nashville, TN.
We Bring With Us the Strength of Tomorrow (Lecturer). Vanderbilt. Nashville, TN.
Pepperpalooza (Lecturer). Red Pepper. Nashville, TN.
Black Arts Bash (Panelist). Cheekwood Garden and Estates. Nashville, TN.
2022
Black Arts Bash (Panelist). Cheekwood Garden and Estates. Nashville, TN.
2021
Nashville Design Week Opening Event (Panelist). 21C Hotel. Nashville, TN.

Juror Positions
2024
Middle Tennessee Scholastic Art Awards. Cheekwood Estate & Gardens. Nashville, TN.
2021
Middle Tennessee Scholastic Art Awards. Cheekwood Estate & Gardens. Nashville, TN.
2019
Delineate. Watkins Art Gallery. Nashville, TN.

Teaching Positions
2023
Metro Public Schools Artist Residency. Nashville, TN.
2019
Watkins College of Art, Design & Film. Nashville, TN.

Press/Publication
Artist XPayne Debuts New Exhibit at OZ
Best Artist of the Year XPayne
New Work by XPayne Marks the Evolution of One of Nashville’s Most Original Artists
Meet the ‘Black Pop’ Artist Who’s Been Praised by Spike Lee and Wesley Snipes
U.S History Meets Black Pop in XPayne’s Don’t Tread On Me!
Slim & Husky’s Restaurant Feature
It Could Be So Simple Book

Selected Live/Community Art Events
2022
Coloring Workshop with Cë Gallery. Soho House Nashville. Nashville, TN.
2018
BPX. Garden Brunch Cafe. Nashville, TN.
2017
Dick Gregory (Live Painting). Nashville, TN.
2016
The Set (Live Artist Residency). Nashville, TN.
2013
NYC Loves Dilla. Webster Hall. New York City, NY.

Grants & Awards
2020
Metro Arts Covid Relief Grant
2018
Metro Arts Thrive Grant
2017
Metro Arts Public Art Funding Project

Education
2014
BFA in Graphic Design with Illustration Concentration. Watkins College of Art, Design and Film. Nashville, TN.

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