They / Them Print

Michael Hayden is a painter living in Los Angeles, CA and Javea, Spain. His abstract artworks are created with tinted, melted beeswax mixed with resin known as Encaustic. This medium was created by the Greeks in about 4BC. Because paintings created with wax need a more rigid substrate, lauan ( a thin plywood) is preferred. It just so happens that art shipping crates are made of Lauan too, so many of his paintings are created on broken down art shipping crates from high end galleries in Los Angeles. Many times, the crates have been used to ship art by Warhol, Picasso, Haring and Basquiat, among others. Hayden says he likes the idea of "rubbing elbows" with these masters! To start, he covers the salvaged crates with burlap and beeswax before adding color. Many of Hayden's artworks are large scale and sometimes considered to have a sculptural quality about them. For that reason, most of the artworks are hung by the french cleat method which is commonly used for heavier artworks and mirrors. His use of color field and the horizon line have led many observers to call him "a modern day Rothko". What makes his work unique is the way he incorporates found objects and a variety of other mixed media into his paintings; especially along the horizon line. In fact, he often refers to them as "mixed media horizon line paintings". Hayden is often inspired by materials including wood, glass, metal, metal leaf and vintage hardware. His studio contains a vast collection of these and other found objects. On Feb 10, 2018 he'll be exhibiting a new collection of black themed paintings with some of LA's top painters at The Loft At Liz's BLACK SHOW in Los Angeles. In 2017 he exhibited at "Transitions" at the grand opening of Rebecca Molayem's new Los Angeles gallery space. Also in 2017 he was represented by Rebecca Molayem Gallery at the Spectrum Art Show in Miami for Art Basel where the booth was awarded "Best New Exhibitor". Hayden's artworks have been featured in several magazines including Glamour and Architectural Home. His paintings were also featured on HGTV, NBC Nightly News, and an IMAX movie. He art can be found in collections all over the world including those of celebrity collectors Cesar Millan, Jenny McCarthy and Donnie Wahlberg.