A highly intelligent and skilled storyteller, Cameron Hayes’ multi-layered paintings actively address cultural power structures and contemporary political issues, rather than simply describing them. His fiercely honest observational works depict modern tales of pollution, political corruption, economic inequality, social injustice and the seemingly general malaise of humanity, often revealing patterns of human behaviour repeated throughout the centuries and across cultures.
“Because in painting you are capturing just one moment in time, you have to progress the story using many different characters doing many different things at the same time and they have to imply a past and suggest a future within that movement.” – Cameron Hayes, 2021
Hayes deftly unites metaphor, symbolism, present and past, distant and near onto the flat surface of the canvas. These intricately detailed and vibrantly coloured works immediately engage and draw us in closer to take in the complexity of the visual narrative. We are presented with microscopic worlds amongst worlds – logical, surreal, historical, futuristic – produced with an extraordinary oil painter’s assured hand and undeniable expertise.
Each large-scale painting can take months or years to complete even with a consistent daily discipline of intense studio time. Hence, after exhibiting predominantly solely in New York for most of his career, many paintings have never before been exhibited in Australia.
Curated by Marielle Soni, this highly anticipated solo exhibition at Australian Galleries is Cameron’s first in Melbourne since his near sell-out show of 2000.
Image above: Cameron Hayes In the South Pole the explorers were so afraid of not having enough food for winter …
Image above: Cameron Hayes She died in the child welfare tribunal, he died in an adult bookshop 2020-21 oil on …
Image above: Cameron Hayes Angry angels help Adam with the first dictionary 2020 oil on canvas 198 x 254 cm …
Image above: Martin King strangerlands II, after W Strutt, Black Thursday 1851 2021 graphite, watercolour, gouache, pastel and gold leaf on …
Image: Glenn Morgan High Rise Towers 2021 acrylic on board 236 x 93 cm Congratulations to Glenn Morgan who has …
Image: Nick Howson Magpie 2019 etching 19.5 cm x 30.0 cm Australian Galleries are delighted to announce that three works …
“An artful collaboration celebrates nature and contemporary female talent across three stunning locations.” Elizabeth Fortescue writes on Destination Sydney: The …
Image: Jennifer Keeler-Milne Spring Wattle III 2021 oil on canvas 121 x 228 cm Destination Sydney: The natural world is now …
We are delighted to share these images from Geoffrey Bartlett with his recently installed sculpture, Alpha, for the Newhaven Public …
Image above: Sidney Nolan The Myth Rider 1958-59 polyvinyl acetate on composition board 122 x 152 cm (Copyright the Trustees …
Image above: Jeffrey Smart Labyrinth 2011 oil on canvas 100 x 100 cm The National Gallery of Australia is today …
Image above: Mary Tonkin After, Kalorama 2021 oil on linen 183 x 320 cm We are delighted to share this …
Image: Angus Fisher with winning work Carrion #3 at the Hawkesbury Art Prize 2021 A huge congratulations for Angus Fisher who …