Hayley was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and in 1984 immigrated to Los Angeles to pursue a career in cinema and theatre. After a few years she segued into production design for film. As she evolved artistically, she moved into the medium of fine art, working with the figure as her primary subject.

In 2009, Hayley entered the non-profit sector as a Board Member and then as Chair of Free Arts for Abused Children, Los Angeles. “Empowering neglected, homeless and dis-enfranchised children through the medium of art has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my life.”

After having added Graphic Design to her portfolio, Hayley has now stepped back into her artist-studio to once again create works on canvas, starting with a series of self-portrait’s - an exploration of self…

ARTIST STATEMENT

I am intent on defining a visceral moment, of capturing and expressing the spirit inherent in the life of my subjects and at the same time opening a space within that expression for the viewer to engage beyond the surface of the canvas. This is not a static vision, but a deepening, fluid curiosity of who the subject is both before and after a particular moment is captured. My hope is that the viewer participates in a dialogue to discover who and what my subjects are about. I work with both real-life sitters and photographs. Most recent has been an exploration of self. Playful, sensual, introspective moments captured on film and transposed onto canvas has been a rich and cathartic experience.

Using lush vibrant color, bold articulated shapes and richly textured brush strokes, I move into this posture of painting the figure in a synergistic way. Mind, body, spirit and facility of craft become one as I get lost in the world of creative expression.  I work in a variety of mediums including oils and acrylics and at times collage and mixed media, which transforms my perception of what I see by mixing it up in exciting and creative ways.

I am enchanted by the human form and the nature and spirit inherent in these forms. The sitter becomes the catalyst for my own reflections and musings as I navigate and engage in their interior world of emotion, beauty, ambiguity and sensuality.  There is an ongoing internal dialogue and as it exposes itself onto the canvas, it is my hope that the viewer participates in this shared, powerful experience between artist and subject.