Opening reception Friday, March 5 from 5 – 8 PM

Durham native Stephen Hayes gives voice to the African American experience, through both historical interpretation contemporary mixed-media artwork. He is a creator: he sculpts, blacksmith, welds, print makes, carves and weaves. Hayes is well known for creating life-sized sculptures, and is currently completing a bronze sculpture honoring the African-American soldiers who would have led the Union advance in what would become known as the Battle of Forks Road, to be unveiled on the grounds of the Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington, North Carolina in November 2021.

Hayes is fixated on the experience his artwork creates. As he has said: “”My number one goal is to wow my audience and to have meaning behind it-to have people relate to my work or even just start a conversation,” explains Hayes.

Hayes received his Bachelor of Arts degree from North Carolina Central University and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Savannah College of Art and Design. He has participated in residencies at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, Alfred, New York, the 701 Center for Contemporary Art, Columbia, South Carolina, McColl Center for Art + Innovation, Charlotte, NC, and at Halcyon Arts Lab, Washington, DC.