Teen Team is a volunteer opportunity for high school students at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. It invites teens to nurture their passion for music, museums, popular culture, and history. It also allows teens to gain work experience and to make new friends!

I created a visual that spoke to being immersed within the culture of downtown Nashville, country music, and pop culture. I hand-lettered a fun, 60s vibe Teen Team surrounded by illustrations of items that can be found within the Museum or items that are representative of Nashville and country music as a whole. Those items include (but are not limited to) the WSM Tower, a banjo, Elvis’s Cadillac, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the Cumberland River, a Mockingbird (the Tennessee state bird), the Batman Building, the Pedestrian Bridge, a 45 and 78 record, and a paisley pattern to unite all the different elements.

In 2020, the Museum received a grant that allowed us the resources to develop our presence in the online exhibit atmosphere. One of the first exhibits we created was Suiting the Sound: The Rodeo Tailors Who Made Country Stars Shine Brighter. Like the title indicates, this exhibit featured the amazing work of tailors that designed the aesthetic of country music stars we now know by name.

I wanted to create a look that was tactile in nature and almost literally represented what this exhibit is about. Check it out here.

Martina McBride’s 2021 exhibition at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Getty Images via Taste of Country

Re-Branding campaign for Uniting Voices Chicago formerly Chicago Children's Choir.

Creative & Art Direction: Paul Halupka via Halupka StudioClient: Uniting Voices Chicago

This piece was created for Upstate Mojo’s initial four song EP, Just a Rough Sketch released in November 2020. The image features two of the bands founding members, Ryan Knaack (L) and Packy B. Taking the nature of this being their initial EP, the EP title, the characteristics of the photograph, and of course the band’s sound (!) — I created something grimy, something with some attitude and something with a lot of style.

Check out the EP here and the band’s insta here.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Ryan Knaack

Acrylic on canvas
20” x 24”
2022

Still Rings True: The Enduring Voice of Keith Whitley is an exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum honoring and remembering the country music star Keith Whitley. Designing this exhibit, I learned a lot about Keith, his roots and his passions and how they informed his voice and style. He was raised among bluegrass culture, but loved honky-tonk music. The neon lights capture this juxtaposition amongst the backdrop of his striking portrait.

Upstate Mojo asked me to create the cover artwork for their 2nd EP released in April of 2021. They wanted something representative of the EP’s title “Patina.” Over the course of a few weeks, the bands lead singer, Ryan Knaack and I set out to capture images of things we deemed to have a “patina” aesthetic (images examples below). From the images taken, I made some selections, printed them on nice paper, and collaged them together to form the background. Then I hand-lettered “Patina” with acrylic paint and stylized the background and letters to create this cover!

Check out the band’s EP here.

In May 2021 the Museum wanted to launch an ad campaign that spoke to the experience of being inside the Museum. We came up with the phrase “BE HERE”. While our team came up with this concept we were simultaneously developing our aesthetic and how this message would be conveyed. We wanted something minimal and impactful.

Exhibition Catalog created for Matt Devine’s exhibition at Diehl Gallery.

Logo illustrated for Nashville based singer & songwriter Allie Lamb.

A commission for a little boys room.

Acrylic on wood panel
24” x 24”
January 2023

Upstate Mojo needed some T’s for all their artist residencies over summer 2021.

I wanted to create something a little trippy, something a little funky, and definitely something that had some movement.

My friend Kristen Englenz asked me to create a whimsical opening illustration and animation for her new episodes of “Caterwauling with Kristen.” She does some amazing caterwauling and she’s also an extremely talented songwriter, singer, and all around musician!

Check out her page and tune in!

Community Counts is a Museum Admission program for locals; it provides youth that are 18-&-under free Museum admission; a “Passport” which provides free Museum admission for up to two adults for members of the Nashville Public Library; and lastly, locals have the ability to receive discounted family membership.

The illustrations are representative of a united and inclusive Nashville community. Famous Nashville landmarks, such as the Batman Building, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the downtown branch of the Nashville Public Library, two significant downtown sculptures, and many more cultural entities plus happy pedestrians enjoying the beautiful landscape.

Find information on this program here and here.

A brand identity created for a Nashville groomer.

This lettering was created for Ralph Stanley: Voice From on High an exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum that shared and celebrated the life and music of Ralph Stanley. I created hand-lettering that captured the solid and reverberating nature of Ralph Stanley’s voice that hailed from the Clinch Mountains in Virginia.

Shortly before the 2020 pandemic, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum asked me to create a mural for the Nations neighborhood in Nashville, TN. The neighborhood has a beautiful industrial aesthetic, perfect for a mural showcasing the warmth of Dolly Parton, surrounded by flowers inspired by those found on Cindy Walker’s typewriter. This typewriter is one of the permanent artifacts showcased in the Museum.

Painted by: Bryan Deese

A self-initiated project aimed to further my skills in AfterEffects!

The Education department at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum develops thoughtful lesson plans that engage visiting students with the immense history of country music. This lesson plan explores the lives of some of its greatest influences. I illustrated the silhouette of Hank Williams for the cover and chose fonts that were reminiscent of early typography.

Learn more about the tour here.

CLIENT: Education Department, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
ART DIRECTION: Bret Pelizzari

Branding for the League of American Bicyclists’ 2023 National Bike Summit.

Creative & Art Direction: Paul Halupka, Halupka Studio
Client: League of American Bicyclists

Acrylic on canvas, 24” x 48”
September 2022

Brand identity designed for Conservation Burial Alliance.

For one of our holiday seasons at simplyput Paper & Gift I created a hand-lettered chalkboard calling to the tradition and excitement of the times to be displayed in the storefront window.

CLIENT: simplyput Paper & Gift
ART DIRECTION: Ashley Woodman

Jeremy Estroff took over the art direction for Edible Arrangements and wanted to WOW Mother’s for a Happy Mother’s Day with a unique hand-lettered script that would become foil embossed on a simple white box.

CLIENT: Edible Arrangements
ART DIRECTION: Jeremy Estroff

Designed the logo and branding for Walk Bike Nashville’s 2022 Open Streets event.

Creative Direction: Paul Halupka for Halupka Studio
Client: Walk Bike Nashville

At the beginning of the 2020 pandemic, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum createdWords & Music at Home to unite our audiences through the art of music bringing much needed togetherness and joy. I wanted to create a fun visual experience that went with the DIY idea of creating something from home; therefore, I used a construction paper texture and whimsical design elements throughout.

These custom save the dates were illustrated and designed for two special people tying the knot amongst a beautiful apple orchard. The grooms favorite movie is Good Will Hunting hence the phrase “How do you like them apples.”

Within the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum lives the Taylor Swift Education Center. This space is the home of an abundance of educational programs that connect the museum content to younger audience members.

Through the use of illustrated artifacts, such as a guitar, cowboy boots, a cowboy hat, an armadillo, and patterns found on country music star’s performance attire I created a motion graphic that is representative of the playful and educational nature of the programs offered within the center.

Digital graphics created for the League of American Bicyclists’ Fall 2023 Membership Campaign.

Creative & Art Direction: Paul Halupka, Halupka Studio
Client: League of American Bicyclists

I was delighted when my former dance company, the Alabama Dance Theater asked me to create the visuals for their performance of Beauty and the Beast. They wanted something mysterious, visually arresting, magical, and classically beautiful. What a fun experience this was and a cross between my two worlds and passions.

Oil on canvas
36” h x 24” w
February 2023

Graphics designed to promote performances at Joelton Hardware.

Magpies
Oil on canvas
34” h x 24” w
Feb 2023

In the midst of the pandemic there was a need for connection. Connection to our audiences that brought our mission into their homes and creative minds. This quote campaign did just that. For each weekly printed ad we carefully selected an artist, a quote, an image, and historical information about the artist and their careers. It lasted from October 2020 to May 2021, it was warmly received throughout Nashville. These selections are some of my favorites.

This is the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s restaurant located in the downstairs conservatory. It proudly sources high quality meats and produce from local farmers and growers. The executive chef, Bobby Hammock, wanted to offer a metropolitan twist to Southern favorites.

I created an inviting and approachable visual environment with illustrations that showcase ingredients found on the menu and playful hand-lettering that echoes the experience of dining here!