Tyler Hays

JO-OHS presents The Art of Making Everything by artist Tyler Hays.

Tyler Hays, an American artist whose practice seamlessly bridges the realms of fine art, craftsmanship, and design. This exhibition, a deeply personal exploration of form, material, and narrative, highlights Hays’ distinctive ability to challenge and redefine the boundaries between the functional and the artistic. Known for his celebrated work as the founder of Bddw, a furniture design studio that has garnered international acclaim for its meticulous craftsmanship, Hays brings a similar rigor and passion to his fine art. His work is a testament to his philosophy that art should be lived with, interacted with, and experienced as part of the rhythms of everyday life.

In this solo exhibition, Hays presents a new body of work that demonstrates a harmony between materials like wood, metal, and stone—elements that reflect both natural beauty and the human touch. His intricate pieces, from paintings to sculptural forms, invite the viewer to engage with the tension between utility and aesthetic, craftsmanship and expression.

Hays draws inspiration from a wide spectrum of influences: from the rugged landscapes of the American Midwest to the elegance of minimalist design, and from the warm imperfections of folk art to the precision of modern craftsmanship. His practice echoes these traditions while simultaneously defying them, creating pieces that are at once familiar and entirely new.

The work on display at JO-HS is both an exploration of the artist’s personal journey and a larger commentary on the intersection of art and the built environment. These pieces ask questions about the objects we surround ourselves with, encouraging viewers to consider how aesthetics and utility shape our daily lives.

This exhibition invites viewers to experience Hays’ vision firsthand, where every object—whether sculptural or utilitarian—becomes an intimate dialogue between the artist, the material, and the observer.

—JO-HS