Woodley White

Woodley White is a dedicated artist with an attentiveness towards the everyday who has maintained a consistent artistic practice for years. Based in Philadelphia, his work regularly features elements encountered within his environment such as vending machines, public transit, bottles and cans, and t-shirts. Over the past decade t-shirts have been a consistent figure in Woodley White’s drawings and most recently have had quite the jump in scale. Going from drawings of patterned shirts on single sheets of paper to creating giant, larger-than-life t-shirts made from multiple painted sheets of paper adhered together. Woodley White continues to explore and expand on our experiences of the items we interact with everyday.

Woodley sitting in front of a large scale pink paper t-shirt

Woodley, I really appreciate your approach to drawing (and the composition of your works). How long have you been making art?

I've been making art since I was a little kid.

Would you say drawing is an everyday practice for you?

I work on art every day. Not always drawing.

Untitled t-shirt drawing by Woodley White

I’m also a fan of the everyday. Do the items that appear in your drawings bring you comfort? Does the process of drawing them bring comfort?

I do enjoy making art.

Is there anything in particular you like to do before starting to draw? Or do you get right to work when you arrive at the studio?

Yes. I like to eat. I like Chinese rice.

What was it like having your drawings published as a book? Did it help reach new audiences?

It made me happy. My art friend Gavin helped make that book.

Based on what you share online on Instagram, it seems like t-shirts have appeared in your drawings for years. What inspired you to increase the size into a giant paper t-shirt series?

I just like big shirts. Especially big purple shirts.

Woodley modeling a giant purple t-shirt made of paper

Woodley modeling a work-in-progress t-shirt made of paper

Woodley modeling a giant yellow and white checkered t-shirt made of paper

The fashion show looked incredible, congratulations on that achievement. How was it to have people modeling your artwork?

It was an exciting new experience.

How was it to collaborate with other artists on the giant t-shirts?

I liked it.

Do you think more art should be wearable?

I do like wearable art.

Are you working on anything at the moment that you are excited about?

I'm working on a giant paper t-shirt.

Woodley working on a large scale yellow paper t-shirt

Woodley White: T-shirts is available via DM to @woodleywhiteart on Instagram.

Woodley White’s Giant Paper T-shirt Fashion Show took place at SPACE 1026 in Philadelphia on April 18, 2025. For this project 10 artists collaborated with Woodley White to create a series of painted paper shirts, large enough to cover the entire body, that were then modeled and paraded at SPACE 1026.

Untitled by Eric R. Lee

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