David Hayes (sculptor) facts for kids
David Vincent Hayes (March 15, 1931 – April 9, 2013) was a famous American sculptor. He was known for creating amazing art, especially sculptures made from steel. His work can be found in many museums and public spaces around the world.
Contents
David Hayes: A Sculptor's Journey
Early Life and Education
David Hayes was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1931. He loved art from a young age. He went to the University of Notre Dame and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1953. Later, he got his Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) degree from Indiana University in 1955. There, he learned from another famous sculptor, David Smith.
Amazing Art and Awards
David Hayes was a very talented artist. He won many important awards for his sculptures. These included a Fulbright Award and a Guggenheim Fellowship, which are special honors for artists and scholars. He also received the Logan Medal of the Arts for Sculpture. In 2007, he was given an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. This means he was recognized for his great contributions to art.
David Hayes had over 400 art shows during his life. His sculptures are part of about 100 museum collections. Some of these include the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum in New York City.
His Home and Legacy
David Hayes lived in Coventry, Connecticut. He had a large property, about 54 acres, where he displayed his sculptures. This outdoor space was called the David Hayes Sculpture Fields. It was like an open-air art museum that people could visit.
He passed away in 2013 at the age of 82. In 2021, his artwork and his special sculpture fields were featured on a TV show. It was an hour-long documentary shown on PBS stations across the country. This helped more people learn about his incredible art.
Where to See His Art
David Hayes's sculptures are displayed in many public places. You can find his work in museums and universities. Here are some examples of places where his art is part of their collections:
- Detroit Institute of Arts; Detroit, Michigan
- Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Houston, Texas
- Smithsonian American Art Museum; Washington, D.C.
- Museum of Modern Art; New York City
- Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum; New York City
- Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris; Paris, France
His art is also in many other places across the United States. This includes museums and colleges in Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York.
Solo Exhibitions: A Look at His Shows
David Hayes had many solo exhibitions throughout his career. This means his art was the main focus of these shows. He had exhibitions in galleries and museums all over the world. Here are a few examples from his many shows:
- 2024: Vertical Motifs at the Bushnell Plaza; Hartford, Connecticut
- 2023: David Hayes | MAN OF STEEL: Selected Works from the Estate of David Hayes, Burgess Modern + Contemporary; Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- 2022: Sculpture in the Circle at the University of Hartford, West Hartford, Connecticut
- 2021: You Gotta Have Art, a Legacy List with Matt Paxton documentary on PBS
- 2020: Sculpture in Downtown Naples, City of Naples; Naples, Florida
- 2019: The Ventana Series, Muscatine Art Center; Muscatine, Iowa
- 2017: Totem Sculpture, Anita Shapolsky Gallery; New York, New York
- 2016: David Hayes Sculpture at the Dubuque Museum of Art; Dubuque, Iowa
- 2015: Sentinel Sculptures at the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens; Jacksonville, Florida
- 2013: David Hayes: A Sculptor of Space and Nature, Elizabeth Myers Mitchell Gallery at St. John’s College; Annapolis, Maryland
- 2011: Sculpture at Goodwin College; East Hartford, Connecticut
- 2007: David Hayes: Sculpture. Vero Beach Museum of Art; Vero Beach, Florida
- 2005: 8 Vertical Motifs at the Mobile Museum of Art; Mobile, Alabama
- 2004: Exhibition Without Walls; 40 sculptures in downtown Fort Pierce, Florida
- 2000: David Hayes Steel Sculptures, Denise Bibro Fine Arts Inc.; New York, New York
- 1991: PBS Broadcast of The Sculpture of David Hayes, a documentary film.
- 1981: Monumental Sculpture Commission: Large Escargot, Hartwood Acres; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- 1978: David Hayes: Sculptor; Channel 57 television documentary.
- 1973: Monumental sculpture commission, Centaur, Columbus Gallery of Fine Art; Columbus, Ohio
- 1961: Chicago Arts Institute; Chicago, Illinois – Logan Prize for Sculpture
- 1959: Recent Sculpture, U.S.A. at the Museum of Modern Art, New York.
David Hayes's work continues to be shown and celebrated today.