History
Overview
Academic Qualifications
- 1981–1983 – Diploma of Fine Art, Ballarat University
- 1984 – Graduate Diploma in Education, Ballarat University
- 1989 – Graduate Diploma of Art/Design (Distinction), University of Tasmania
Professional Experience
- 1985–1988 – Art Teacher, Ballarat Grammar School
- 1990 – Lecturer, School of Art and Design, University of Tasmania
- 1992 – Art / Design Teacher, Rosny College, Hobart, Tasmania
- 1992 – Guest Lecturer, Department of Fine Art, University of Newcastle, NSW
- 1993–1997 – Rip Curl Artist / Designer
- 1993 – Artist / Lecturer in Residence, University of NSW, Sydney
- 1994 – Artist in Residence, Morongo College, Geelong, Victoria
- 1995–1997 – Head Designer, Rip Curl
- 1997–1999 – QSD (Quiksilver Denim) Designer
- 1999–2005 – Quiksilver and Roxy Design and Development Manager
- 2005–2007 – Roxy Product Manager (Clothing & Accessories)
- 2007–2009 – Director, Quiksilver Asia Pacific Product and Sourcing
- 2009–2011 – Vice President, Quiksilver Global Research & Development
- 2011–2013 – Senior Vice President, Quiksilver Asia Pacific Product and Sourcing
- 2013–2015 – Director, Animal UK
- 2015–2023 – Executive Vice President Global Product & Marketing, PacSafe Hong Kong
- 2023–Present – Full Time Artist
Artist Statement
Phil Hayes has been making and exhibiting art for over 30 years, with more than 200 group exhibitions and 15 solo shows. His work is held in public and private collections worldwide, including Japan, the United States, and Europe.
Australian-born and bred, Hayes began his career as a teacher and lecturer in fine art before moving into the surf industry, where he became an artist and later Head Designer at Rip Curl. He spent more than 15 years at Quiksilver as Head of Design and Development, working across Australia and Hong Kong, before returning to Australia to work full-time on his art practice.
Drawing from modernism and Pop art, Hayes blends bold graphic language with references to surf culture, suburbia, and the Australian landscape. A recurring “dog” motif, present for over two decades, has evolved into a personal emblem. More recently, his work has focused on the thylacine, exploring extinction, myth, loss, and human impact within the Australian psyche.
Solo Exhibitions
- 1989 – Red China Suite, Chameleon Contemporary Art Space, Hobart, Tasmania
- 1990 – Life Forms, Entrepot Gallery, Centre for the Arts, Hobart, Tasmania
- 1990 – Avago Gallery, Chameleon Contemporary Art Space, Hobart, Tasmania
- 1991 – A Racontuer's Meandering, Arthouse Inc, Launceston, Tasmania
- 1991 – If You Go Out In The World Today You're Sure Of A Big Surprise, Eltham Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria
- 1994 – Recent Work, Ryrie Street Art Gallery, Geelong, Victoria
- 2002 – Phil Hayes, QDOS, Lorne, Victoria
- 2002 – Recent Works, Convent Gallery, Daylesford, Victoria
- 2004 – Recent Works, Convent Gallery, Daylesford, Victoria
- 2009 – Australese, UFO Art gallery, Soho, Hong Kong
- 2010 – Surfboards and Other Icons, ufoArtgallery, Soho, Hong Kong
- 2011 – 101, Damina Gallery, Soho, Hong Kong
- 2016 – Talking Animals, Art Supermarket, Soho, Hong Kong
- 2025 – The Bounty Years, SOL Gallery, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia
- 2025 – Phil Hayes, Henry Jones Art Hotel, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Grants & Awards
- Finalist – Tina Wencha Sculpture Prize, Melbourne, Victoria 1985
- Finalist – 8th & 9th MPAC Print Prize, Mornington Peninsular Art Center, Victoria 1988/90
- Finalist – International Miniature Art Annual, Del Belo Gallery, Toronto, Canada 1986/87/88
- Finalist – Freemantle Print Award, Freemantle, WA 1989
- Finalist – Swan Hill Print and Drawing show, Swan Hill Gallery of Contemporary Art, Victoria 1990
- Awarded – N.A.V.A Pat Corrigan Artist Award 1991
- Finalist – 11th Mini Print International, Barcelona, Spain 1991
- Ilford Photographic Award 1992
- Finalist – CPM Acquisitive Print Prize, Tweed River Regional Art Gallery, NSW 1992
- Finalist – 2nd International Art Biennal, Brusque Art Museum, Brazil 1993
- Surf Coast Shire Calendar Award 2001
- Finalist – Urunga Small Sculpture Prize, Urunga NSW 2023
- Finalist – Trails Sculpture Prize Portland Victoria 2023 and 2024
- Finalist – PLC Armidale Signature Art Prize, PLC Armidale NSW 2024
- Finalist – Milburn Art Prize, Brisbane Institute of art, 2025
- 2nd Prize – Brunswick St Gallery Small Works Art Prize 2026
- Finalist – St Columba’s Art Prize 2026
- Finalist – Environmental Art Prize, Manly Art Gallery 2026
Group Exhibitions
1985–2026 – Participated in more than 200 national and international group exhibitions including:
- Sculpture 85, World Trade Centre, Melbourne
- International Miniature Art Annual, Toronto, Canada
- Freemantle Print Award Exhibition, Western Australia
- Charles Nodrum Gallery, Melbourne
- Swan Hill Print & Drawing Show, Victoria
- First Draft (WEST), Sydney
- Marion Nicholl Gallery, Alberta College of Art, Canada
- The Print Club, Pennsylvania, USA
- Stedelijk Museum, Belgium
- Mini Print International, Barcelona, Spain
- Honolulu University, Hawaii, USA
- Intergrafia '91, Poland
- International Ex-Libris Exhibition, Lithuania
- Kanagawa Gallery, Yokohama, Japan
- Juniper Gallery, Napa Valley, California
- 2nd International Art Biennial, Brazil
- Sarajevo Art Aid, Slovenia
- Osaka Print Triennale, Japan
- Queensland College of Art Gallery
- International Print Triennial, Cracow, Poland
- Art Against Racism, Vienna, Austria
- British International Miniature Print Exhibition, Leicester, England
- American Gothic, Barcelona, Spain
- Yokohama International Print Show, Japan
- Mer-Mere Touring Exhibition, Belgium
- The Shadow, Florean Museum, Romania
- Toorak Village Festival of Sculpture, Melbourne
- Linden Postcard Show, St Kilda
- Whitewash: Surfers Who Art, Surfworld, Torquay
- Asia Top Gallery Hotel Art Fair, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong
- Making Waves, Jam Factory, Adelaide
- Fifty Squared Art Prize, Brunswick Street Gallery
- Affordable Art Fair Sydney
- Toorak Sculpture Show
- Sculpture Now, Yarra Sculpture Gallery
- Environmental Art Prize, Manly Art Gallery
- St Columba's Art Prize
- Brunswick Street Gallery Small Works Art Prize
Commissions
- 1988 – Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, Victoria
- 1988 – St Martins in the Pines Senior College, Victoria
- 1990 – Building and Construction Industry Training Board, Melbourne
- 1991 – Office of the Status of Women, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Tasmania
Selected Bibliography
- Andrew Paul, Instant: Polaroids and the Last Instant, First Draft (WEST), Sydney, 1990
- Diane Macleod, People Prints & Patronage, Geelong Fine Art Gallery, 1996
- Margaret Clark & Phil Hayes, Meatballs Good Dog Day, Random House, 1998
- Max Germaine, Artists and Galleries of Australia, 1990
- Susan McCulloch, The Encyclopedia of Australian Art, 1994
- Susan McCulloch & Emily McCulloch Childs, The New McCulloch's Encyclopedia of Australian Art, 2006
- D.W. Thorp / NAVA, Who's Who of Australian Visual Artists, 1995
- WGSN, Industry Inspirations: Phil Hayes, 2007
- Collette Wong, Surfing Across Cultures, Hong Kong Gallery Guide, 2009
Collections
- Australian Print Workshop, Melbourne
- Brusque Art Museum, Brazil
- Chameleon Contemporary Art Space, Tasmania
- Commonwealth Bank of Australia
- Geelong Art Gallery
- Royal Hobart Hospital
- University of New South Wales
- University of Tasmania
- Kanagawa Prefecture Gallery, Japan
- Lithuanian Ex-Libris Centre, Lithuania
- Private collections throughout Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States