Hayla Hay is a painter, writer, and arts administrator based in Detroit, MI. She earned her BFA in Painting and Photography, with a minor in Art History, from Wayne State University.

Her paintings draw from Christian symbolism, mythological iconography, and folklore. By blending traditional allegories, she seeks to recreate visions that are intimate and  strange—using what was written before us to craft a sense of personal belonging. Influenced by Renaissance composition and storytelling, her work reimagines the world through a surreal, feminine lens, echoing the reverence of religious art while inviting new ways of seeing, feeling, and believing.

Hayla often incorporates unconventional materials into her paintings, such as bones, insects, and relics found while exploring in nature. She references deceased animals she discovers, imagining herself as a psychopomp, and creates Posthumous Portraits that honor their presence.

In addition to her studio practice, Hayla has worked at the Detroit Artists Market for four years, where she currently serves as Gallery Manager. She made her curatorial debut with Nest: A Reflection of Safe Spaces at CCS Center Galleries, followed by GIRLHOOD at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit.

Outside of her work and practice, Hayla is an insatiable reader and a seeker of all things whimsical. She still dreams, occasionally, of running away to the circus.