Rick Hayward is an Artist, Maker, and Traditional Signwriter based in Meanjin/Brisbane. Embracing traditional hand tools and techniques in both his studio and commissioned work, Hayward works primarily with wood, glass, and gold leaf culminating in finely crafted multi-dimensional works.
Originally trained as a Signwriter, Hayward has acquired skills from some of the finest craftspeople in the world and has received mentoring from established Australian artists and makers. He was awarded Student of the year at the internationally recognised Sturt School for Wood in 2023, and in 2024 he was a finalist in Wood Review Magazine’s ‘Maker of the Year’ prize and won the Wootha Prize - one of Australia’s most recognised woodworking prizes.
In 2025 Hayward was selected for the first residency collaboration between craft institutions Artisan (Brisbane) and the JamFactory (Adelaide), with resulting work to be exhibited in 2026 at HOTA (Home of the Arts - Gold Coast).
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Please contact for available work, commission enquiries, and invitations to exhibit.
Prizes
2024 Winner - Wootha Prize
2024 Finalist - Maker of the Year, Wood Review Magazine
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Exhibitions
2026 'Unleashed+' w/Artisan, HOTA, Gold Coast QLD
2026 'Taking Shape' - Melbourne Design Week, VIC
2025 Expo 2025 w/ Artisan, Osaka, Japan
2025 'Motion' - Adelaide Design Week, SA
2024 'Out of Office' - Waiting Room Gallery, Brisbane QLD
2024 'Unleashed' - Artisan, Brisbane QLD
2024 'Potato Salad' - Gladstone Rd Studios, Brisbane QLD
2023 'Block Show' - Vacant Assembly, Brisbane QLD
2023 Sturt School for Wood Graduate Exhibition, Mittagong NSW
2021 'Mutual Intent' - Brisbane Powerhouse, Brisbane QLD
2020 'SURFACE TENSION' - Brisbane Powerhouse, QLD (Solo)
2020 ‘REFUSE’ - The Third Quarter, Brisbane QLD (Solo)
2019 'Boiling Point' - The Third Quarter, Brisbane QLD
2019 ‘Trespass’ - Onwards Studio, Newcastle NSW
2019 ‘Divergence’ - The Third Quarter, Brisbane QLD
2018 'Less is more' - 1AMSF, San Francisco CALIFORNIA
2016 'Louder than letters' - Goodspace, Sydney NSW
2016 'The Apprenticeship' - Artisan, Brisbane QLD
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Public Artwork
2026 Queensland Rail commission, Bowen Hills QLD
2023 Queensland Rail commission, South Bank station QLD
2021 Queensland Rail commission, Bald Hills QLD
2020 Brisbane Powerhouse commission, New Farm QLD
2019 Queensland Rail commission, Eagle Junction QLD
2015 Brisbane Canvas project with Brisbane City Council, Fortitude Valley QLD