This week we spoke to Wigan based artist Liz Hayes. Her photograph “Flower Pizza” is part of the Manchester Open 2020. Read on to find out what inspires her photography and transforming the seemingly mundane into something beautiful.
When did you first take up art? What’s your artistic background?
I have always been interested in photography as a medium and after taking a night photography course I found I was very interested in the editing side of photography – and so it is my principle interest in terms of my art.
How did you feel when you found out you had been chosen for the Manchester Open?
I felt really excited and lucky to have been chosen out of so many people and I’m sure some very talented people. I feel very lucky to get to have my work seen by so many people especially so early on in my career!
Where do you find your inspiration?
I like to look at normal items and think how I could make an interesting visual piece out of something fairly mundane, usually two items or more and most importantly colour, colour and more colour! Colours play a key role in all of my images and will continue to be a part of my work for the foreseeable future.
What do you think art brings to your life?
I think art provides me an outlet to show everyone what Iam capable of creating and I also hope that it helps other people want to create art too!
Which artists do you admire?
I very much admire Matt Crump and Indig0 as artists as I have modelled most of my work around their colourful and amazing styles I see their work as something to constantly aspire to and work towards
Tell us an interesting story about yourself & your work:
My bubble bath piece was created completely by accident as originally the bath had jelly beans in it it was actually my assistant who suggested using millions sweets which I had actually bought for her earlier in the day for the bubbles and thus one of my favourite pieces to date was born!
Our Manchester Open Exhibition 2020 runs from Sat 18 Jan until Sun 29 Mar.
This is the first region-wide exhibition of its type to welcome entries from people of any background and level of experience, including established professionals, new and emerging talent, enthusiastic amateurs and first-time artists.
Follow #mcropen2020 on all our platforms for sneak previews, artist Q&As and behind the scenes videos.