By Design: Woke3

Humans have felt compelled to leave their mark since the beginning of their existence. From cave drawings to what is today known as graffiti — complete with the artist’s tag — the artform has evolved into beautifully composed murals. These designs all have one thing in common, though: They are meant to tell a story. Woke3 — a muralist and studio artist — attests to the power of storytelling in this tradition, saying, “The larger the mural is, the easier it is to see; the greater the impact on the people of the community, on culture, and on our [collective] existence.” 

Born and raised in Nashville, the artist — formerly known as Sleep2 — says that the design world wasn’t necessarily his childhood dream: “It wasn’t always a thought. It just happened. I’m not surprised; I’ve always loved doing graffiti.” 

He actually felt the call while painting his first train — like the art you might see chugging past while you wait at a railroad crossing. “When I was writing Sleep2, mostly in high school, I was doing mostly ‘illegal’ graffiti art. When I wanted to start getting paid, I needed a different name. So,” he explained, “I started writing Woke3. Woke is my third name, and Sleep was my second.”

While he was self-taught for about six years, he studied art at Tennessee State University and has become one of the city’s most recognized muralists. If you’ve ever driven up Clarksville Pike and seen the phrase, “Freedom is not a destination, it’s a journey,” that is Woke3’s heartwarming work, Family Matters — a collaboration with The Norf Art Collective and lead artist Doughjoe. In 2020, Woke3 depicted the meaningful work of the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition on their Ezell Road building. 

These are just two shining examples of why he rightfully takes pride in his “ability to make people feel connected, appreciated, respected and completely submerged in my artworks.” The community upholds Woke3’s work as “inclusive, diverse, and having the ability to show how no one thing is greater than another,” he says — encapsulating his primary intentions.

If you want to feel the love of his art, you can find him at this year’s Nashville Design Week. “The ideas and people make it worth returning each year. I’m looking forward to meeting more people,” he says.

Connect with Woke3 at WokeThree.com and on Instagram @Woke3.