James 'Jimmy' Hayward, defining figure of West Coast monochrome painting, dies at 81
The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Sunday, April 19, 2026


James 'Jimmy' Hayward, defining figure of West Coast monochrome painting, dies at 81
James Hayward in his painting shed, Moorpark, CA, 2015 photographed by William Turner.



SANTA MONICA, CA.- It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of the revered artist and dear friend, James “Jimmy” Hayward, who died this morning. Born in San Francisco in 1943, Hayward spent the majority of his life in Los Angeles, where he became a defining figure in the region’s post-minimal and monochrome painting tradition. Until recently, Hayward lived in an airstream on his beloved horse farm in Moorpark, an image that suited him: a painter who was part philosopher, part cowboy, and wholly singular.

For more than four decades, Hayward pursued a deeply committed investigation into gesture, materiality, and the physical act of painting. Associated with the lineage of West Coast abstraction, he developed a distinctive monochrome practice defined by densely worked surfaces of thick oil paint. Built through deliberate, diagonal strokes across canvas-covered panels, his paintings form ridges and textures that emphasize both the physical presence of paint and the quiet discipline behind each mark.

At the core of Hayward’s work was a philosophy of equality—of marks, of attention, of experience. He resisted hierarchy within the pictorial field, seeking instead a “proletariat” approach to painting in which every gesture held equal weight. The result was a body of work that balanced vigor with stillness: surfaces alive with movement, yet remarkably stable and contemplative. Critics often remarked on this paradox, noting the way his paintings could feel at once dynamic and meditative, immersive and restrained.

Color was central to his vision. Working frequently in red, black, and white, Hayward created deeply resonant monochromes that heightened perception and invited sustained looking. In certain installations, his works extended beyond the canvas, saturating entire spaces and dissolving the boundary between painting, architecture, and viewer.

Hayward received his BFA from San Diego State University and later studied at UCLA before earning his MFA from the University of Washington. Over the course of his career, he exhibited widely, with work shown at major institutions including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, among many others. His paintings are held in numerous public collections across the United States.

A dedicated teacher as well as an artist, Hayward mentored generations of students at institutions including ArtCenter College of Design and the University of California, Los Angeles. His influence extended far beyond his own practice, shaping the language of painting in Los Angeles and beyond.

He was the recipient of many prestigious honors, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, and a Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant. Artist Mike Kelley once described him as “one of the few truly important West Coast painters.”

Above all, Jimmy will be remembered for his integrity, his generosity of spirit, and his unwavering belief in the human capacity to make something meaningful and shareable. As he once said, he hoped his work might allow others to feel, even briefly, a sense of pride in what we are capable of creating together.

We feel fortunate to have been in touch with him recently, and to have included two of his remarkable paintings in our current group exhibition, Surface Tension. He will be deeply missed.

-William Turner










Today's News

April 19, 2026

Exhibition at The Met showcases rarely seen Gothic architecture drawings for the first time

Revolutionary highlights at Firsts London

Rare gold and silver coins to go under the hammer at Morphy's

Important Nikola Tesla signed manuscript to be auctioned April 30

Rare lunar meteorite among treasures at Heritage nature and science auction Dallas

Heritage Auctions launches Comics and Comic Art Boutique Direct Sale platform

Tricia Edwards named Director of Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

America's first national art museum honors the country's 250th

National Museum of American History announces new acquisitions

Nelson-Atkins exhibition explores lasting influence of Alphonse Mucha

Adrian Ghenie: The Romanian painter tackling the 'unbearable beauty' of Rome

Galerie Karsten Greve celebrates the legacy of John Chamberlain

Alfred Ehrhardt: Bauhaus-trained filmmaker's sixty-film legacy finally takes centre stage

Württembergischer Kunstverein presents siren eun young jung: resistant theatre

Sikkema Malloy Jenkins now representing Isabel Nolan

Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab presents FUTURE VISION LAB 2026

James 'Jimmy' Hayward, defining figure of West Coast monochrome painting, dies at 81

Call and response: Neïl Beloufa explores the glitchy disconnect of the digital age

The flower is built, not painted: Anthony Akinbola's durag still lifes arrive at Carbon 12

Smithsonian Associates presents "Faith in Harmony" series exploring the soundscapes of American spirituality

National Museum of African Art announces promised gift: The "African Ceremonies" photographic collection




Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, .

 



The OnlineCasinosSpelen editors have years of experience with everything related to online gambling providers and reliable online casinos Nederland. If you have any questions about casino bonuses and, please contact the team directly.


sports betting sites not on GamStop

Truck Accident Attorneys



Founder:
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)


Editor: Ofelia Zurbia Betancourt

Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez


Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:

ignaciovillarreal.org facundocabral-elfinal.org
Founder's Site. Hommage
       
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful