Haroun Hayward's works comprises a wide array of influences, seamlessly fusing art historical references, musical inspirations, and distinct methods of creation. The unique narratives in his works often draw inspiration from abstract expressionism, post-war British landscape painting, African and South Asian textiles and rave culture. Working primarily in oil, pastel and watercolour, Hayward infuses an abstract and expressive quality to his work, paying tribute to avant-garde Vorticism and influential DJs and producers from the 80s and 90s as well as works by post-war British painters such as Ben Nicholson and Paul Nash. These influences serve as a bridge between different eras and histories, converging landscape, rave culture and subcultures, characterized by a search for the transcendental.
In his work, Hayward explores the profound connection between sound and visual art, emphasizing the inherent interconnectedness of repetition in music and the patterns found in textiles and miniatures. Hayward's appreciation for these intricate works becomes evident in the way he divides the surfaces of his pieces into various sections, resulting in a captivating interplay of both repetition and variation. Each variation offers a unique rhythm while drawing from a common set of influences. By harmoniously combining these diverse influences, Hayward explores a multitude of visual possibilities within a unified picture plane that resonates with both his personal history and his fascination with the diverse tapestry of global cultures.
Haroun Hayward (born in 1983 in London) received his MFA from Goldsmiths University London in 2010, following an exchange year at the Nagoya University of Arts in Japan. Hayward has had solo exhibitions at Hales, London; Entractes23, Arles; indigo+madder, London; and Wellington Club, London. He has been included in group exhibitions at Modern Art, London; Marlborough Art Gallery, London; Public Gallery, London; French Riviera, London; Galerie Isa, Mumbai, India; Paradise Row Projects, London; AORA, London; Drawing Room, London; indigo+madder, London; and Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London, among others. The artist was appointed as the winner of the Burt Brill & Cardens Award for Outstanding Excellency in 2006. Hayward’s artist residencies include The Fores Project, London; Cing Sur Mer, France; and Casa Ballandra, Mallorca. Hayward is currently an Associate Lecturer in the Fine Art Painting Department at Brighton University and a mentor at The New Art School, London. His work is included in various collections such as the Gujral Foundation, New Delhi; Kiran Nadar Collection, Delhi; and Arun Nayar Collection, London. The artist lives and works in London.