This autumn, Hayley Youngs joins seven other artists for Sightlines, a group exhibition at Gallery 85, running from September 2024 to March 2025. Victoria Gildersleeve curated the show, which examines how perception changes with perspective. The exhibition immerses viewers in a space filled with bold patterns, bright colors, and intricate linework. As visitors engage with the art from multiple angles, they encounter an evolving visual experience that encourages discovery and exploration.
Youngs’ work aligns seamlessly with the exhibition’s theme, exploring change, balance, and self-reflection. Her paintings evoke realms beyond the physical, drawing on philosophical and spiritual influences. As Youngs explains, “Using esoteric shapes, curvilinear motifs, and bold color palettes, I metaphorize humanity’s journey into the unknown.” Her precise symmetry and intuitive use of color create a harmonious visual experience, inviting viewers into a contemplative space.
Born in Oneonta, NY, and now residing in Brooklyn, Youngs has gained recognition for her bright, meditative pieces that offer an escape from external disorder. She explains, “Ultimately, my work speaks to our collective desire for grounding and clarity in a world that feels increasingly unpredictable. By balancing natural elements with symmetry and intuitive precision, I aim to create a visual refuge, offering viewers a space to find balance, beauty, and a moment of introspection amid the turmoil.”
Hayley Youngs, “End of Summer Hibiscus” (2023) – Acrylic on Canvas, 40″ x 30″.
Youngs’ art is deeply influenced by her experiences with nature, often drawing from memories of places she has visited. Although she lives and works in bustling New York City, her paintings contain the tranquility of serene landscapes, flowers, and other natural elements. These motifs contrast sharply with her urban surroundings, reflecting her need to escape to more peaceful, beautiful places. “I think the absence of nature in my everyday life fuels my need to escape to those peaceful, beautiful places I’ve experienced while traveling,” she says.
In the past five years, Youngs has found inspiration in the Neo-Tantric artists of India and the Transcendental Painting Group in the U.S. These movements have interested her with their emotional depth and ability to transport viewers to otherworldly spaces. Artists like G.R. Santosh and Agnes Pelton have significantly influenced her perspective, inspiring her to explore themes of consciousness and transcendence in her own work. “Their work captivates me with its transportive power and emotional depth,” she explains. “Together, these influences encourage me to push the boundaries of perspective and create immersive experiences in my own art.”
Hayley Youngs, “The Best Flower I’ve Ever Met” (2022) – Acrylic on canvas, 48″ x 36″.
As part of Sightlines, Youngs’ work will be displayed alongside that of seven other artists, each offering their unique interpretation of the show’s central theme of shifting perspectives. The exhibition changes Gallery 85 into a space where the viewer’s experience of the art evolves as they move through the gallery, challenging the idea of a fixed viewpoint. Each piece reveals new aspects from different angles, making every step through the gallery a fresh experience.
Youngs’ contribution to Sightlines stands out for its careful use of symmetry and color. Her works encourage viewers to pause, step away from daily demands, and enter a space of calm and introspection. The flowing shapes and bright hues in her paintings aim to create a sense of wonder and stillness, offering a visual retreat where viewers can reconnect with themselves and their surroundings.
“I hope viewers experience my art as an opportunity to step away from the chaos of the outside world and enter a more peaceful, contemplative space,” Youngs says. “I want my paintings to inspire personal reflection and offer a sense of calm, allowing people to momentarily escape the demands of everyday life.”
Despite her success, including her involvement with the 5-50 Gallery, Future Fair, and numerous exhibitions in galleries such as Hollis Taggart Gallery and Wassaic Project, Youngs remains deeply connected to her art. She admits to having favorites among her pieces, particularly those where the colors, balance, and composition perfectly express her vision. “Some pieces just resonate on a deeper level,” she says. “But I’m able to let go of them because it’s fulfilling to know that others find meaning in them as well. They are meant to be shared and out there in the world.”
Sightlines allows Youngs and her fellow artists to examine how art can change based on the viewer’s perspective, encouraging them to engage with the pieces in new and unexpected ways. Located in New York City’s arts district, Gallery 85 presents emerging talent and expands the boundaries of artistic expression. With its focus on cultivating encounters with the unexpected, Sightlines promises to be a thought-provoking exhibition.
As Hayley Youngs continues to develop her artistic practice, her work remains a visual sanctuary in a world that often feels overwhelming. Through her bright, meticulously crafted paintings, she offers viewers a space to pause, reflect, and find a moment of calm within the chaos.
To follow more of Hayley’s journey, find her on Instagram at @hayleyey, and if you find yourself in New York City, be sure to stop by Gallery 85 to experience Sightlines in person.
