In Hugh Hayden’s first solo museum presentation on the West Coast, the complexities of identity, desire, and belonging are explored through meticulously crafted and darkly humorous wooden sculptures and multimedia installations. From tree bark-hewn designer shoes to basketball hoops braided with synthetic hair, the artist’s works reveal how everyday objects reflect the values and tensions embedded in our society.

Centered around themes such as athletics, food, fashion, and childhood, Hayden’s art challenges viewers to reconsider the familiar. His work transforms commonplace items into potent cultural symbols, uncovering layered meanings that speak to both personal and collective experiences. Through a blend of craftsmanship and conceptual depth, Hayden reimagines the ordinary as sites of critical inquiry and emotional resonance.

By appropriating elements of American vernacular culture, Hayden tells stories that encompass joy, struggle, and resilience. His sculptures ask us to look beyond surface appearances to recognize the deeper narratives embedded in objects, prompting reflection on how identity and history are shaped by the everyday artifacts that surround us.