Ovoid and erotic, Olive Hayes’ recent work explores her changing perspective on fertility and how it relates to her sexuality. Cavities and swollen shapes reflect a prior fear of becoming a vessel that gives at its own expense. Yet, emphasized details and softened shapes allude to a changed outlook since accepting her lesbianism, with fertility now feeling like an unattainable object of sweetness.

Olive Hayes was born in 1997 in Pittsburgh, PA, and lives in Ardmore, PA. She earned her BFA from the Moore College of Art & Design in Philadelphia, PA (2020).

She mounted a solo exhibition at MARCH in New York City, NY (2021).

Hayes has been included in group exhibitions at Commonweal Gallery in Philadelphia, PA (2023); Goldie Paley Gallery in Philadelphia, PA (2020); The NOW at A WAY Gallery in British Columbia, Canada (2020); Levy Gallery in Philadelphia, PA (2019); Annenberg Gallery in Philadelphia, PA (2019); and the Moore College of Art & Design in Philadelphia, PA (2019).

Hayes received the Deborah Deery ’01, ’12 Memorial Award for Excellence in Art Education )2020), the Fanny Brennan Scholarship for Excellence in Painting (2019), the Virginia E. Lewis Scholarship Fund from The Pittsburgh Foundation (2018), and was recently selected for the Rome Art Program in Rome, Italy (2021).