Exhibitions

DONTÉ K. HAYES + KEVIN KAO: ANCESTRAL OBJECTS

UT Downtown Gallery / 106 S Gay St. January 2 - February 18th

Donté K. Hayes, Kevin Kao

Ancestral Objects: Holders of Memory, Space and Time is an exhibition of works from Donté K. Hayes and Kevin Kao, two artists working in clay coming together for a conversation on how objects can be a conduit to cultural, social and personal reflection. Through the use of abstract sculpture, the exhibition opens the viewer to reconsider race and identity as markers for welcoming and belonging.

Each artist explores the humble medium of clay as a historical material with its own inherent preconceived notions and perceptions to offer new perspectives on unraveling the relationship with one-self and the world around them. Both artists highlight the duality of clay to serve as container and symbol; enduring and vulnerable; hard and soft; static and dynamic. However, Donté and Kevin bring their own unique voices to the exhibition.

The works in Ancestral Objects, employ sculpture with stillness and intentionality, taking the viewer on a journey of personal growth. Through similar, yet distinct practices, Donté K. Hayes and Kevin Kao deftly investigate the properties of clay to hold narratives, using materiality as a method for reflection, transformation and connection. This exhibition reminds us of the power that objects have to shape perceptions — placing culture, memory, and identity into forms that resonate throughout time.