Born 1992 Eora Nation (Sydney), Australia.

Hayley Zena uses an intuitive system of applying colour and generating grids. The grid is a structure which the artist uses to track each garden she mends, nurtures, observes, and inevitably must leave, as is the transience of renting. The nature of the grid (inside the grid versus outside the grid) has provided the artist with a familiar and consistent structure in which to examine living organisms through man-made materials. Using her digital library of garden sketches, photographs, videos and notes, the artist examines each garden or 'project space'. 

By delineating areas within her project spaces as a scientist or archaeologist might, Hayley narrows in on the insects, plants and living colour palettes which form the basis of her colour-fields. Canvas is deconstructed and woven to create an asymmetrical and at times, unpredictable, grid system, reflecting the research component of the artist’s methodology. 

Hayley’s central concern as an artist is paying homage to the living creatures and plant life that we cohabitate with, illuminating natural colour combinations, reinforcing the belief that the natural world is stranger, and more compelling, than fiction.

  • education

    UNSW Art & Design
    2017 – 2019
    Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership
    Capstone: Exhibition curation and audience engagement
    Field of study: Curating in the Third Space

    Sydney College of the Arts
    2011 - 2015
    Bachelor of Visual Arts (Hon)
    Studio: Painting
    Field of study: Painting in the expanded field

  • exhibitions

    solo exhibitions

    2024    SPELLWORK, Airspace Projects
    2020    Isle of Spirits, White Rhino Artspace
    2015    Act I: The Gesture GKJE Gallery


    group exhibitions

    2024    LAUNCH Landslide Gallery
    2022 Infinite Sensés Puzzle Gallery
    2021 Emergent Artsite Galleries
    2015    Clyde and Co Art Award Exhibition
    2014    SCA Degree Show Sydney College of the Arts
    2013    Materialism Verge Gallery
    2013    SCA Degree Show Sydney College of the Arts

  • curatorial

    2024    Cunning Revived
    Blue Mountains Cultural Centre
    Daisy Beattie · Tamara Elkins · Yvette Hamilton · Gianna Hayes · Emily Hunt · Adriana Māhanga Lear · Hayley Millar Baker · Katy B Plummer · Justine Youssef

    2023    Tracing the Rupture
    Blue Mountains Cultural Centre
    Fiona Davies · Szymon Dorabialski · Maddison Gibbs · Rachael Harrex · Eloise Maree · Judith Martinez Estrada · Juundaal Strang-Yettica · Ali Tayahori · Meng-Yu Yan

    2021    as above; so below
    Airspace Projects
    Stevie Fieldsend · Kath Fries · Gianna Hayes · Owen Leong · Linda Sok

    2019    Cause + Effect
    STACKS Projects
    Gillian Kayrooz · Tina Stefanou · Jessica Thallmaier

  • industry employment

    Curator
    Blue Mountains Cultural Centre
    2023 - present

    Visitor Experience Host
    Art Gallery of NSW
    2021 - 2022

    Airspace Projects
    Committee Member
    2022 - 2023

    Director & Social Media Manager
    STACKS Projects
    2016 - 2020

  • media & interviews

    The Routledge International Handbook of Practice-Based Research
    Curating interactive art as a practice-based researcher: An enquiry into the role of autoethnography and reflective practice - Deborah Turnbull Tillman