UNLEASHED - Artist Profile: Rick Hayward
Rick Hayward
Meanjin (Brisbane)
Rick Hayward is a Meanjin (Brisbane) based emerging artist and maker with a passion for traditional craftsmanship. Originally trained as a traditional signwriter, he completed a Certificate IV in Furniture Design and Manufacture at the esteemed Sturt School for Wood in Mittagong, NSW, in 2023. Hayward's dedication and skill were recognised when he was awarded Student of the Year by the representative body Studio Woodworkers Australia and by his recent accolade as the winner of the Wootha Prize. He has since established his workshop in Red Hill, Brisbane, seamlessly blending his existing skillset with his newly acquired expertise.
Hayward's practice is grounded in traditional skills and techniques, exploring how the meditative qualities of discipline and process within craftsmanship can alter consciousness and perceptions of reality. Utilising a range of traditional mediums, including hardwood, gold leaf, and glass, he seeks to realise the union of the material and the metaphysical in creating harmonious, multi-dimensional works as explorations of the human condition.
Exhibited in Unleashed are three significant works that exemplify Hayward's mastery of traditional techniques. Meticulously crafted, Hayward's designs explore the harmonious fusion of form and function, investigating the proportion, space, and ergonomics in relation to the human form. With hand-cut joinery and hand-woven paper cord, his works invite both physical and mental comfort, offering a respite from the hustle of daily life.
Image credits:
Rick Hayward (2024) ‘A’ Chair, ebonised Blackwood and Danish Paper Cord. 190 x 90 x 45cm. Photography by Rick Hayward.
Rick Hayward (2024). Asym Mirror, ebonised Blackwood, 12k White Gold, 22k Moon Gold, Glass. 600 x 400 x 30cm. Photography by Daniel Mulheran.
