Artist Statement

Dave Hay

Contemporary Artist

American, b. August 14, 1962, Joliet, IL

My work embodies an Expressive Quiet Presence in Color and Form—gestural abstractions that balance intensity with stillness, lyricism with force. Rooted in Abstract Expressionism, Color Field painting, and Pop Imagery, my practice unfolds through rhythm, color, and layered form.

Influenced by artists such as Warhol, Basquiat, Twombly, de Kooning, Helen Frankenthaler, and Joan Mitchell, I expand both the conceptual and emotional dimensions of abstraction. Each canvas becomes a living record of gesture and intuition, where color and form converge into quiet force.

The result is a body of work that invites reflection and connection, encouraging viewers to pause, immerse, and encounter the subtle energy of presence.

⸻

About the Artist / Bio

Dave Hay was raised in Springfield, Massachusetts, and now resides in Newburyport, MA. His creativity was nurtured from an early age by his mother, Jayne Hay—an accomplished artist and teacher. He earned degrees in Art and Art Education and spent 25 years teaching before dedicating himself fully to his studio practice.

His work has been exhibited in solo and group shows across the United States and is held in private collections worldwide. Most recently, he has been represented by Carolyn Kramer Gallery in Provincetown, MA, and Chalk Gallery in Newburyport, MA.

Hay’s paintings fuse the traditions of Abstract Expressionism, Color Field painting, and Pop Imagery into a contemporary practice defined by spontaneity, rhythm, and emotional depth. His pieces emphasize unstructured exploration and intuitive creativity, offering bold yet contemplative encounters with color and form.