To the Beat of a Different Drum: An Artist Profile

Wyatt Woodruff Adams embraces imperfection in his abstract works, approaching each piece with a musician’s mind and a willingness to tackle new techniques.

“Everything I do goes back to how I approach music,” Adams said.

Indeed, the frenetic energy needed as a drummer is evident in his works. Adams is a relative newcomer to the visual arts. Local musicophiles may recognize him as the drummer behind both the pop-rock group The Burning Hotels and experimental indie-rockers Ice Eater. He recently left the music industry to focus on his new career as a stylist at Panther City Saloon.

After recently turning his eye to exploring symbols and patterns found in nature, Adams isn’t sure where that road may take him just yet.

“I could do that for a couple days and then move on,” he said. My art “is always evolving.”

The amassing of divergent techniques and influences is evident in his work. The collages he creates seem to be under constant construction, incorporating pieces of advertisement, paint, paper (which he likes because of the added texture), and other materials. Whereas some of his paintings can be more straight ahead, Adams prefers a laid-back approach.

“Let it be janky, you know?”

Adam’s work can be found through the Tanglewood Moms/Madeworthy Marketplace, and you can also find him working with a different medium, hair, at Panther City Salon. This article is part of a monthly series of artist profiles made possible through a partnership between Tanglewood Moms and the artist-led nonprofit, Art Tooth.