Artist Highlight: Vertis Hayes

Larry D. and Brenda A. Thompson Curator of African American and African Diasporic Art Shawnya L. Harris discusses the early artistic life of Vertis Hayes along with two paintings in the Thompson Collection.

Art by Vertis Hayes (American, 1911 – 2000):

“The Lynchers” (detail), ca. 1930s. Oil on canvas, 19 1/2 × 15 1/4 inches. Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia; The Larry D. and Brenda A. Thompson Collection of African American Art. GMOA 2012.127.

“Juke Joint,” 1946. Oil on canvas, 28 × 36 inches. Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia; The Larry D. and Brenda A. Thompson Collection of African American Art. GMOA 2012.126

Images:

Vertis Hayes and assistants; 306 group; “Pursuit of Happiness” scenes, Institute for the Research of African American Studies.

Edward Weston, “Jean Charlot, Mexico” (1926).

Artists of the 306 W. 141st Street WPA Art Center © Morgan and Marvin Smith. Reproduction from the Photographs and Prints Division, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, the New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundation.

Vertis Hayes, “Pursuit of Happiness” horns, Harlem Hospital. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, the New York Public Library.

Vertis Hayes, “Pursuit of Happiness” hunters, Harlem Hospital. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, the New York Public Library.

Vertis Hayes, “Pursuit of Happiness” hallway, Harlem Hospital. Photo by Mark Nadir. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, the New York Public Library.

Vertis Hayes’ business card. Trefts Watts Labor Community Action Committee Collection (WLCAC), CSU Dominguez Hills Department of Archives and Special Collections.

Music: https://www.bensound.com