Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Arthur Haywood. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Arthur, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

My paintings for public schools show students immersed in the magical world of stories. My life-size paintings make these stories appear real. There are several articles that show a connection between students reading for pleasure and their success in their other studies. Showing the world of stories visually encourages students, who may not even already be reading a lot, to want to pick up a book and dive into a fantasy story. Furthermore, creating paintings that celebrate the wonder of learning among multicultural students, embraces the pursuit of education as a unifying link among students from very diverse cultural backgrounds. Beyond literacy, this project serves to validate young people by showing their limitless potential through a fantastical lens. Students contribute to imagining, posing and painting borders of a large-scale mural of themselves in the universe of stories.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My work highlights human potential through a fantastical lens. My paintings showing stories coming to life are designed to engage young people in reading. From defeating evil dragons to limitless pursuits into space, his art is a metaphor for courageous aspirations through a new lens. For it is in our imaginations that we can push thought and dream of a better tomorrow. My life-size paintings for public schools, realized in a trompe l’oeil style, immerse viewers in the world of stories. While his illustrations show a glimpse into the magical world within books.

My paintings are a response to the chain reaction of opportunities that can grow from being exposed to reading. Much of my art is inspired by my upbringing. Having a father who organizes reading camps as a Pennsylvania State Senator and mother who was president of the school board showed me the impact of engaging others in literacy. My illustrations are another way of sharing the love of reading with others. Showing the world of stories visually encourages students, who may not even already be reading a lot, to want to pick up a book and dive into a fantasy story. I used life-size realistic techniques to make these stories seem real.
Beyond literacy, this project serves to validate young people by showing their limitless potential through a fantastical lens. The stories in fantasy and science-fiction are metaphors for the dreams and hopes that we all have and the difficulties that we overcome.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I appreciate art as a universal language to communicate with others. Having created many murals for The Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, Elkins Park School, Lycée Paul Lapie in Paris and creating murals for Ecollectif and the André Malraux elementary school, in France, MacArthur Elementary and Phoenix Rising High School in Tulsa has shown me the impact of art as a tool for community engagement. The students have been enthusiastic about the murals I developed with them. I have visited the schools to discuss my experience in creating murals and the goals of promoting literacy through art. Students choose the theme based on their favorite books, pose for the paintings and help in painting sections around the edges of the murals. These paintings are a reminder of the limitless potential that exists within each of us.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I am expanding my public art practice to decorate entire rooms for libraries and schools with paintings to encourage reading. I am looking to collaborate with architects and designers in creating immersive spaces. Essentially creating a fantasy sistine chapel to transport young readers into stories. Students will contribute by influencing the design based on feedback, posing for the characters in the paintings and contributing to painting sections of the murals. Through establishing connections with libraries and schools I will be able to contribute to their literary initiatives. While my paintings are developing, I will reach out to architects and designers to join me in renovating more areas of the space.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.arthurhaywood.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arthurhaywood
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Arthur-Haywood/100008185921333
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthur-haywood123
• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/arthurhaywood
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ArthurHaywoodFineArt

Image Credits

Profile photo – Ghazal Ghazi
Interior Mural Installation – Dan Farnum
An Old Fart and A Thousand Sentiments Book Cover photo- Phetote Mshairi