Rick Hayward is an established Brisbane creative traversing the space between craftsman and artist. Hayward translates 18 years of traditional sign-writing into a contemporary studio and public art practice, alongside varied commercial projects.
Utilising social, environmental, and anthropological discourse to inform his work, Hayward refocusses his commercially acquired skillset to investigate sociocultural value systems and constructed identity in relation to the human condition.
Hayward's work spans large scale murals, through to studio artworks utilising techniques and materials practiced in traditional sign-writing. Exploring typographic arrangements and hard edge abstraction with reductive design principles, his practice represents a fluid intertextuality between the commercial and contemporary realms.
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 ‘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
Design Stories
The Design Conference
PetchaKutcha
AGDA’s 'First Five Out'