XPayne is a storyteller concerned with the Black American narrative. Through art XPayne creates work that pushes back against the marginalized narrative of Black experiences. His creative goal is to exalt the culture in its entirety through establishing new Black iconography, while conversing with past and contemporary art influences.

Xavier’s creative skill-set is ever-growing as he strives to bring all of them together harmoniously through his work. While every piece employs different techniques used in a seamless manner, most pieces begin with drawing on paper. Then he transfers his drawings to wood or simply renders them them as digital illustrations. If a drawing is transferred to wood he uses acrylic paint, marker, and cut paper to make a picture. He often uses Adobe Illustrator to create “digital paintings” and “digital blueprints” to plan color schemes and composition.

A well-rounded, Black-American perspective is important to XPayne's personal goals as he develops his catalog of work and exhibitions. He often refers to his work as “Black-Pop,” which is a word that focuses on the value of Black American influence on American culture. His saturated color palette is the result of coming from a marginalized group boldly expressing itself while passionately exclaiming, “I’m here and my worth is immense!” These works are designed to engage the viewer as quickly as possible.

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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