Rick Hayward
Rick Hayward (b.1982) is a Meanjin (Brisbane) based artist translating 18 years of traditional sign
writing experience into a contemporary art practice through exhibition work and large scale site-specific works, alongside varied commercial projects.
Refocussing his traditionally acquired skillset, Hayward examines sociocultural value systems and constructed identity utilising traditional sign making processes and materials. Influenced by eastern philosophy and reductive abstraction, his practice is a communion between the commercial craft and contemporary art realms; pulling at the threads of the human experience in an effort reveal the essential that lies beneath.
Excerpt from ‘Divergence’ 2019 exhibition essay by Curator Sophie Kubler -
“Hayward’s contemplation of the intersections between the realms of natural and human, resonates
across the show and in many ways, serves as an underlying goal. As humans globally are closer than
ever to facing the consequences of climate change and the effects of the man-made age of the
Anthropocene, the idea of embracing ‘slow’ philosophy and rebuilding communities and economies with an emphasis on hand-made and locally produced is growing. Amidst this conscious, societal change, it is important to situate the works of this artist, whose highly skilled-based practices, acquired
traditionally and practiced authentically, in a socially and environmentally conscious context.”
Exhibitions
2020 'SURFACE TENSION' - Brisbane Powerhouse
2020 ‘R E F U S E’ - The Third Quarter, Brisbane
2019 'Boiling Point' - The Third Quarter, Brisbane (Group)
2019 ‘Trespass’ - Onwards Studio, Newcastle (Group)
2019 ‘Divergence’ - The Third Quarter, Brisbane (Group)
2018 'Less is more' - 1AMSF, San Francisco (Group)
2016 'Louder than letters' - Goodspace, Sydney (Group)
Commercial Clients
Westfield
ARIA
Brisbane City Council
Balter Brewers
Gold Coast City Council
Pacific Fair
Lendlease
Robina Town Centre
Queensland Rail
Features
NAVA's Artist Files
No Cure Magazine
Frankie Magazine 'SPACES'
Etihad Airline's Atlas Magazine
Public Speaking
Brisbane Street Art Festival
Design Stories
The Design Conference
PetchaKutcha
AGDA’s 'First Five Out'