Contemporary Art

A Vibrant Perspective: Ivey Hayes and His Colorful Works of Art

Rachel Witte 24 February 2022 min Read

A vibrant perspective of Ivey Hayes’ art has always stood out in my mind. Before his death in 2012, the South Eastern North Carolina artist was known for creating vibrant paintings from his unique perspective. Unlike my interactions with the art of Minnie Evans, I actually had the opportunity to meet Hayes at an annual Spring festival along the Cape Fear River of Wilmington, North Carolina. It must have been my birthday because he ended up giving me a postcard-sized print of one of his paintings – thereby starting an early appreciation with his work(s)! I recently stumbled across that print and thought “who better to share with but you, lovely readers!”

Portrait of Ivey Hayes.
Portrait of Ivey Hayes. Island Life NC Magazine.

A Vibrant Perspective

Although Hayes picked up drawing at a very early age, he said that he did not get a vision for his most famous style until later on in life. He was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, rendering his fingers and hands gnarled; his ‘faceless’ paintings are fluid, filled with color, and historical significance. The paintings are filled with African themes, colors, and people. Likewise, they are reminiscent of an age gone by, with scenes of Jazz music or cotton picking.

Ivey Hayes, Maybe Someday.
Ivey Hayes, Maybe Someday. Artist’s website.

They are filled with geometric patterns and silhouettes. Unlike Minnie Evans’ work, Hayes’ work is more discernible in nature. But what is evident, is that they both received visions of some sort. The visions took over them and they had to paint or draw, allowing the colors to be the focal point of their respective works. Although he painted in an abstract manner and heavily with acrylics and oils, the artist showed great strength with realistic watercolor portraits that are worth discussing too, as they are a part of his larger overall oeuvre.

Ivey Hayes, Club Scene. Artist’s website.

Ivey Hayes, Break Time. Artist’s website.

Get your daily dose of art

Click and follow us on Google News to stay updated all the time

Recommended

Contemporary Art

Life, Death, and Beauty: Damien Hirst in 5 Artworks

Damien Hirst is one of the most influential and controversial figures in contemporary art. His work merges natural science and popular culture with...

Carlotta Mazzoli 16 September 2024

Contemporary Art

The Frank Stella You Thought You Knew

You may know Frank Stella from the brightly colored, shaped canvas paintings in his Protractor series from the late 1960s to early 1970s. However,...

Marva Becker 11 July 2024

Barbara Kruger, Untitled (We Don't Need Another Hero), 1987. Screenprint on vinyl. Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, USA. Contemporary Art

Barbara Kruger: The Radical Voice of American Art

Barbara Kruger stands out as one of the most influential artists of the 21st century. Notably, in 2021, TIME magazine featured her on their 100 Most...

Errika Gerakiti 15 July 2024

Contemporary Art

Meet Lina Iris Viktor and Her Gilded African Queens

Lina Iris Viktor (b. 1987) is a Liberian-British multidisciplinary artist. She lives and works in Italy, maintaining a limited presence on social...

Errika Gerakiti 27 June 2024