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Born to a deaf mother, Allen Thomas Hayes learned the power of visual expression early on in life. Interested in linguistics and codes as a result of this, in high school Hayes transformed this into a talent for painting and printmaking. His easily apparent talent won him a scholarship to Northern Illinois University, where he studied printmaking with a focus on etching. Hayes made a name for himself with his own art as well as the criticisms and reviews he wrote for a national art publication and when he applied to the Art Institute of Chicago he was eagerly accepted to one of five graduate positions – from a pool of 3,500 applicants!
Creating imagery that makes a clear and unique presence through simple expression is the accomplishment that Alan Hayes achieves his art. Each piece, subtle and alluring, conveys an emotional sensitivity through a planned language of signs and symbols that has been derived from a lifetime of adaptation and rigorous attention to the process of communication. Alan Thomas Hayes was born to a mother who was deaf, and to a family where the what and how of communication had real meaning. He suggests that coping with the hearing disabilities in his family was significant in honing his ability to "develop and integrate space, time and movement into visio-linguistic codices." Given this, it is not surprising that Hayes' first interests were in Egyptology - a field where symbolism was integral to communication.
This interest lasted well into high school where it was replaced with painting and printmaking. The talent he exhibited in this media was of such caliber that he won a scholarship to Northern Illinois University. Here he studied printmaking with a focus on etching under an inspirational professor, Dr. Driesbach, who recognized Hayes' talent and introduced him to two nationally acclaimed masters in the craft of viscosity printing, Stanley Wm. Hayter and Krishna Reddy. Hayes considers these three individuals to be indispensable in the developing of his artistic talents.
Hayes' years at the University constituted a period of intense growth for his art. In addition to being rigorously involved in his art, he wrote critiques and reviews for a national art publication. His art gained recognition beyond the university setting. From the academic front, he was awarded a Van Brighten Talented Student Scholarship, and from the critical community, he started showing on a regular basis in one of Chicago's leading galleries.
Hayes unique, postmodern etchings with their use of remarkable semiotics and colors can be found in private and public exhibitions and collections internationally. |
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