Steve Wariner To Debut Solo Art Exhibit At Monthaven Arts & Cultural Center

The Flip Side: Paintings by Steve Wariner will feature 60 works spanning more than 30 years.

Written by Amanda Tempel

Date Published: June 1, 2026

Steve Wariner is best known as a Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, but music is not the only art form that has shaped his life. This summer, the country music icon will share another side of his creativity with a solo art exhibit at Monthaven Arts & Cultural Center in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

The Flip Side: Paintings by Steve Wariner will run from June 21 through July 26, 2026, and will feature 60 of Wariner’s works in oil, acrylic, watercolor and mixed media. The exhibit spans more than 30 years of the artist’s visual work.

“We are thrilled to introduce Steve Wariner’s paintings to our community at Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center,” says Cheryl Strichik, the MACC’s executive director. “I am proud to say that this will be the most prominent display of Steve’s artworks since his 2013 exhibition at the Tennessee State Museum.”

Wariner has been painting since childhood. Growing up in suburban Indiana, he was inspired by his brother David, a professional artist known for his book and album-cover illustrations. Even at a young age, Wariner was drawn to watercolor, a medium that remains central to his work.

“For me, painting has always been a kind of therapy,” says Wariner. “It’s my sanctuary and escape. I’ve been drawing and painting for as long as I’ve been making music. They both go back to the beginning.”

Wariner’s watercolor style is loose and spontaneous, creating images he often describes as “washy.” His paintings frequently reflect the people and places he has encountered throughout his years on the road as a musician. Rural landscapes, seascapes, portraits and guitars are recurring subjects in his work.

Family and musicians also appear throughout Wariner’s paintings. One watercolor, Happy New Year, Dad, depicts his father’s band performing onstage at the Noblesville American Legion as they rang in 1963.

That connection between music and painting also extends to Wariner’s creative process. His willingness to take risks has become part of his approach to both art forms, with Wariner noting that perfectionism can stand in the way of creativity.

“I learned a long time ago that you have to write 50 songs to get 10 good ones, and the same is true of painting.”

Wariner paints daily, taking time away from the easel only when he is preparing for a concert. He often spends a couple of days working on a watercolor, while other mediums require more time.

Although Wariner resisted painting in oil for years, he began experimenting with the medium in 2020. His oil paintings, including Purple Presence, are richly layered and textured, with some pieces taking months to complete. Wariner now works across multiple mediums, including oil and encaustic, and his exhibit will include both representational and abstract pieces.

An opening reception for The Flip Side: Paintings by Steve Wariner will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 21, 2026. The event is open to the public, and Wariner will be in attendance to greet visitors and discuss his paintings.

Wariner will also perform a special show during the Heritage Music Series. The concert happens at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, 2026. Tickets are available through Monthaven Arts & Cultural Center.

Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center is an art museum and education facility housed in one of Tennessee’s antebellum mansions. The nonprofit organization has hosted exhibitions featuring works ranging from the ceramic art of Pablo Picasso to the evening gowns of Princess Diana. The center also showcases the artwork of local artists and military veterans, offers art classes to more than 1,200 children and adults each year, and provides free arts outreach and healing arts programs for underserved children, families and military veterans.

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