cathy hayes

BIOGRAPHY

b. 1960
Lives and works in Ireland,
Work in the Bahamas and London.

Cathy Hayes’ lavishly expressive paint and mixed media work is the culmination of a multifarious assemblage of tropical, metropolitan, vernacular and cultivated influences. The effortless structure within the work and naturally harmonious framing of the figures against their backdrops is surely embedded in her previous architecture practice and training. The fluidity of the paint as it seems to seep and cascade across the canvas, is perhaps attributed to the enduring significance of the ocean within the artist’s life. The rich and vivacious use of audacious colour palettes certainly find origin in a life lived in dynamic mix of cultures and countries, including South America, China, Myanmar, Uzbekistan. Throughout these travels, Hayes photographed and painted the experiences of herself, her baby daughter and husband, embedding them into her intuitive perspective.

Originally a practicing Architect, Hayes’ artistic training initiated in the Chelsea School of Art in 1990-92 part time, however it was some years later, on settling in the Bahamas that her art took a central role. It was here, while formally retraining at a local art college, that Hayes’ practice truly began to imbue the emboldened, expressive emotion that we see in her work today. As early as her first exhibit, her work was acquired into The D’Aguilar Foundation collection. 

Since this first show, Hayes’ oeuvre has consistently evolved. It has been increasingly amplified through the artist’s strengthening skills, voice and viewpoints, as well as a lineage of constructive and noteworthy exhibitions. Hayes identifies a number of exhibitions in her catalogue as milestones on her trajectory. Misconception (2014), a solo in Origin Gallery, Dublin, was a visceral examination of the impact of the Virgin myth on contemporary female identify. Vibrant paint depicted lecherous female nudes and ogling eyes in these works. ‘Love and Death’ (2015), a group show at Walcot Chapel, curated by Geoff Dunlop as part of the Fringe Arts Bath Festival, saw this theme further interrogated through mixed, media hand crafted, sculptural works which were visceral, fierce and astutely sardonic. In 2017, Hayes exhibited twice in New York, by J. Cacciola Gallery as part of a majorly international showing of Dublin based contemporary artists. Hayes has continued to flourish and grow her catalogue year on year. This has included a substantial presence in London with shows such as ‘Embodiment’ (2018) with Bo Lee Gallery, London and a schedule that continues into 2021. Hayes presence as a key contemporary artists in Ireland has been consolidated through National Portrait Gallery commissioning, DLR Arts and an ongoing relationship with Gibbons & Nicholas Gallery. 

Throughout this trajectory, Hayes has applied her inimitable perspective and training to the societal context surrounding her. The result has been a playful and spirited study through listening to women’s stories of past and present , seeing and imagining our new relationship with society, art history, violence and the idea of reclaiming women’s voices through re-imaging myths and stories from the past. Hayes has keenly deepened her examination of these motifs through further training. In 2019 she undertook the intensive Summer Residency Program at the renowned Slade School of Fine Art and Camden Arts Centre, culminating in London exhibitions. She then went on to a Masters in Painting at UAL Camberwell College of Art, London, which she completed in 2020. The resulting work has been exhibited extensively and has laid the foundation for the continuing evolution of her practice today. 

Hayes’ work is regularly acquisitioned into private collections and has been acquired by public collections including the Office of Public Works, Ireland and the National Self-Portrait Collection of Ireland, which commissioned her self-portrait in 2018. Her work continues to be exhibited internationally with increasing momentum, already catalogued at Art-Miami, John Cacciola, New York and The Royal Ulster Academy. She continues work in her Bahamas studio and with the internationally focused Gibbons & Nicholas Gallery, Dublin.