Congratulations to Stephen Hayes on his selection for inclusion in next year's Oregon Contemporary Artists’ Biennial, “The Price of the Ticket," opening April 2026.
Curated by TK Smith, the Oregon Contemporary Artists’ Biennial 2026 will explore the interconnected themes of place, power, and promise, especially as they relate to our complex relationships with the land, our histories, and our nations. This exhibition intends to act as a response to the 250-year anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. This pivotal document emancipated the 13 American colonies from British rule, establishing the new nation with the promise of certain “unalienable rights” to all citizens. Since its signing, there have been long and violent battles to combat the restriction of those rights and the denial of full citizenship, often fought by the most vulnerable of us. The long history of Oregon offers us many examples of these battles occurring at various scales.
Prior to the 2026 Oregon Biennial Hayes will exhibit his solo show “Elegy” at Elizabeth Leach Gallery, October 15 - November 29, 2025. Known for his evocative depictions of the Northwest landscape, Hayes shifts focus in “Elegy” toward the immediate and historic tragedy of war, where “color is asked to convey the soul of each artwork.”
Elizabeth Leach Gallery is proud to represent Hayes and his work!
