Beyond Boundaries: The Multidimensional Art of Arlene LaDell Hayes

Dream Cartographer
Perhaps most compelling among Hayes’ diverse body of work are her surrealist acrylic paintings, particularly the mesmerizing Spirit Warrior and Star Traveler series. These otherworldly compositions map territories that exist beyond ordinary consciousness.
“My dream states have always been extraordinarily vivid,” Hayes explains. “These paintings aren’t recreations but rather translations of experiences that occur in a different kind of reality.”
With bold calligraphic brushstrokes and luminous color palettes, these works create visual portals between worlds. While they acknowledge the 20th-century Surrealist movement, they transcend mere homage through Hayes’ distinctive visual language that blends Eastern philosophical concepts with Western artistic traditions.
What separates Hayes’ surrealist works from those of her predecessors is their remarkable accessibility. Despite their dreamlike qualities, viewers find emotionally resonant entry points—recognizable human forms and symbolic elements that invite personal interpretation rather than imposing fixed meanings.
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