Bio
Aaron Grayum received his BFA from Middle Tennessee State University in 1999 and has been painting professionally since 2005. Born in Ravenna, Ohio in 1977, Aaron has called Tennessee home since he was 4 years old, which is also when he began creating art. His work has been published in The New England Review, Canvas Rebel, and The Saturday Evening Post, as well as featured on the hit television show Nashville. In 2020, Aaron was named one of the top three Art Creators of the Year by Nashville Lifestyles magazine, and he was named 2023 Whimsical Artist of the Year at the national Art Comes Alive competition. He lives and works with his wife and son in just outside of Nashville in Fairview, Tennessee.
Statement
I make art for the inner child. I try to connect to people who feel unseen, in a way that shows them they matter and are not alone. Using acrylic on canvas, I create images inspired by drawings I made when I was a kid – like birds, umbrellas, and jelly bean trees – speaking a language familiar to both children and adults. Words and poetry are integral to much of my work, allowing me to explore the tension between the playful innocence of childhood and the vulnerable truths of a grown-up world that doesn’t always understand.
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