Modernism Gallery Opens James Hayward Retrospective
The San Francisco exhibition showcases artworks spanning the career of the late artist from 1975 to 2013.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Fine Art
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Modernism gallery in San Francisco has opened a new retrospective exhibition titled James HAYWARD: Works 1975-2013. The collection features a wide array of pieces from the late artist, who lived from 1943 to 2026.
Why it matters
This exhibition provides an overview of Hayward's artistic development over four decades, highlighting his unique approach to gestural impasto surfaces created with oil, wax, and pigments.
The exhibition displays works created between 1975 and 2013, a timeframe during which the artist developed his signature gestural impasto techniques. The gallery previously documented this career trajectory by publishing a monograph on the artist in 2007.
The players
James Hayward
He was an artist who lived from 1943 to 2026 and was known for his distinct gestural painting style.
Modernism
This San Francisco gallery specializes in contemporary art and maintains a history of publishing scholarly monographs on featured artists.
Sidney Janis Gallery
This New York venue hosted the 1977 Less is More exhibition in which Hayward participated.
The details
The gallery features significant works including the Automatic Painting 33x33 Black Gray White and the triptych Automatic Painting 47x80 Black/White. These pieces exemplify Hayward's method of combining wax, oil, and pigments to achieve textured, layered surfaces.
Timeline
The exhibition showcases artworks created between 1975 and 2013.
Hayward participated in the 1977 Less is More exhibition.
The artist received a fellowship to Japan in 1982.
Modernism published a monograph on the artist in 2007.
The exhibition remains on view through October 31, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The retrospective at Modernism follows a pattern set by Hayward's early career milestones, including his participation in the 1977 Less is More exhibition at Sidney Janis Gallery. By curating a multi-decade survey, the gallery highlights the legacy of artists who bridged mid-century abstraction and contemporary practice.
Art enthusiasts and local residents can view these works in person at the Modernism gallery in San Francisco. The exhibition is scheduled to remain open to the public through October 31, 2026.
The takeaway
Visitors to the gallery can observe the technical evolution of Hayward's work over nearly 40 years. This retrospective serves as a complete look at the artist's use of wax and pigments before the exhibition concludes this autumn.
Further reading
For more on local exhibitions, visit the Fine Art section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Artdaily.
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