Sharon Hayes: There’s so much I want to say to you

June 21–Sept 9, 2012

A woman with short hair staring directly at the camera.

A woman with short hair staring directly at the camera.

Sharon Hayes (b. 1970) is a New York–based artist who uses photography, film, video, sound, and performance to examine the nexus between politics, history, speech, and desire. This exhibition brings together existing pieces and newly commissioned works, all of which articulate forms of what Hayes calls “speech acts.” The works are presented within an environment designed by Hayes for the Whitney’s third floor galleries, in collaboration with artist Andrea Geyer.

Artworks

Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), An Ear to the Sounds of Our History (‘68), 2011. Chromogenic print. Collection of the artist; courtesy Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), An Ear to the Sounds of Our History (A Time to Keep), 2011. Collection of the artist; courtesy Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), An Ear to the Sounds of Our History (News), 2011. Collection of the artist; courtesy Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), An Ear to the Sounds of Our History (The Women Rose), 2011. Collection of the artist; courtesy Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), An Ear to the Sounds of Our History (Longest Day), 2011. Collection of the artist; courtesy Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), Not Yet Titled, 2012. Video and overhead projection; color, silent. Collection of the artist; courtesy Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin. Image courtesy Oddball Film + Video/Jenni Olson Queer Archives
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), Beyond, 2012. Research/production still. Courtesy the artist and Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin. Photograph by Sharon Hayes
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), Beyond, 2012. Research/production still. Courtesy the artist and Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin. Photograph by Sharon Hayes
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), Beyond, 2012. Research/production still. Courtesy the artist and Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin. Photograph by Sharon Hayes
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), Everything Else Has Failed! Don’t You Think It’s Time For Love?, 2007. Documentation of performance at United Bank of Switzerland, New York, NY. Photograph by Andrea Geyer. Courtesy the artist and Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), Everything Else Has Failed! Don’t You Think It’s Time For Love?, 2007. Documentation of performance at United Bank of Switzerland, New York, NY. Photograph by Andrea Geyer. Courtesy the artist and Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), Everything Else Has Failed! Don’t You Think It’s Time For Love?, 2007. Documentation of performance at United Bank of Switzerland, New York, NY. Courtesy the artist and Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), Everything Else Has Failed! Don’t You Think It’s Time For Love?, 2007. Documentation of performance at United Bank of Switzerland, New York, NY. Photograph by Andrea Geyer. Courtesy the artist and Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), I March In The Parade Of Liberty, But As Long As I Love You I’m Not Free, 2008. Performance still, the New Museum, New York, NY, December 1–January 27, 2008. Photograph by Kristine Woods. Courtesy the artist and Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), I March In The Parade Of Liberty, But As Long As I Love You I’m Not Free, 2008. Performance still, the New Museum, New York, NY, December 1–January 27, 2008. Photograph by Andrea Geyer. Courtesy the artist and Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), I March In The Parade Of Liberty, But As Long As I Love You I’m Not Free, 2008. Performance still, the New Museum, New York, NY, December 1–January 27, 2008. Photograph by Andrea Geyer. Courtesy the artist and Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), I March In The Parade Of Liberty, But As Long As I Love You I’m Not Free, 2008. Installation view at the New Museum, New York, 2008. Photograph by Collier Schorr. Courtesy the artist and Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), I March In The Parade Of Liberty, But As Long As I Love You I’m Not Free, 2008. Installation view at the New Museum, New York, 2008. Courtesy the artist and Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), I March In The Parade Of Liberty, But As Long As I Love You I’m Not Free, 2008. Installation view at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2008. Courtesy the artist and Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) Screeds #13, 16, 20 & 29, 2003. Installation detail. Courtesy the artist and Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), Spoken Word DJ, performed at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, in conjunction with Haunted: Contemporary Photography/Video/Performance. July 24, 2010. Photograph by Enid Alvarez/The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, New York. Courtesy the artist and Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), Spoken Word DJ, performed at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, in conjunction with Haunted: Contemporary Photography/Video/Performance. July 24, 2010. Photograph by Enid Alvarez/The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, New York. Courtesy the artist and Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), Spoken Word DJ, performed at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, in conjunction with Haunted: Contemporary Photography/Video/Performance. July 24, 2010. Photograph by Enid Alvarez/The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, New York. Courtesy the artist and Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970) and Andrea Geyer, Stage-Set, 2012. Installation view. Photograph by Andrea Geyer. Courtesy the artist and Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), still from We Knew We Would Go To Jail, 2003. Two-channel video installation, color, sound; 10 minutes. Courtesy the artist and Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), still from We Knew We Would Go To Jail, 2003. Two-channel video installation, color, sound; 10 minutes. Courtesy the artist and Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), still from We Knew We Would Go To Jail, 2003. Two-channel video installation, color, sound; 10 minutes. Courtesy the artist and Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), still from We Knew We Would Go To Jail, 2003. Two-channel video installation, color, sound; 10 minutes. Courtesy the artist and Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), YARD (Sign), 1961/2009. Multiple signs. Installation view, Marble Cemetery, 2009. Photograph courtesy Hauser & Wirth Gallery
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), YARD (Sign), 1961/2009. Multiple signs. Installation view, Marble Cemetery, 2009. Photograph courtesy Hauser & Wirth Gallery
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), YARD (Sign), 1961/2009. Multiple signs. Installation view, Marble Cemetery, 2009. Photograph courtesy Hauser & Wirth Gallery
Sharon Hayes (b. 1970), YARD (Sign), 1961/2009. Multiple signs. Installation view, Marble Cemetery, 2009. Photograph courtesy Hauser & Wirth Gallery

Sharon Hayes
1 work in the collection
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Videos

Sharon Hayes, Yard (Sign), 2009/2012

Events

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Installation photography

Installation view of Sharon Hayes: There’s so much I want to say to you (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 21–September 9, 2012). Photograph by Sheldan C. Collins.
Installation view of Sharon Hayes: There’s so much I want to say to you (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 21–September 9, 2012). Photograph by Sheldan C. Collins
Installation view of Sharon Hayes: There’s so much I want to say to you (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 21–September 9, 2012). Photograph by Sheldan C. Collins
Installation view of Sharon Hayes: There’s so much I want to say to you (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 21–September 9, 2012). Photograph by Sheldan C. Collins
Installation view of Sharon Hayes: There’s so much I want to say to you (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 21–September 9, 2012). Photograph by Sheldan C. Collins
Installation view of Sharon Hayes: There’s so much I want to say to you (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 21–September 9, 2012). Photograph by Sheldan C. Collins
Installation view of Sharon Hayes: There’s so much I want to say to you (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 21–September 9, 2012). Photograph by Sheldan C. Collins
Installation view of Sharon Hayes: There’s so much I want to say to you (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 21–September 9, 2012). Photograph by Sheldan C. Collins
Installation view of Sharon Hayes: There’s so much I want to say to you (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 21–September 9, 2012). Photograph by Sheldan C. Collins
Installation view of Sharon Hayes: There’s so much I want to say to you (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 21–September 9, 2012). Photograph by Sheldan C. Collins
Installation view of Sharon Hayes: There’s so much I want to say to you (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 21–September 9, 2012). Photograph by Sheldan C. Collins
Installation view of Sharon Hayes: There’s so much I want to say to you (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 21–September 9, 2012). Photograph by Sheldan C. Collins
Installation view of Sharon Hayes: There’s so much I want to say to you (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 21–September 9, 2012). Photograph by Sheldan C. Collins
Installation view of Sharon Hayes: There’s so much I want to say to you (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 21–September 9, 2012). Photograph by Sheldan C. Collins
Installation view of Sharon Hayes: There’s so much I want to say to you (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 21–September 9, 2012). Photograph by Sheldan C. Collins
Installation view of Sharon Hayes: There’s so much I want to say to you (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 21–September 9, 2012). Photograph by Sheldan C. Collins
Installation view of Sharon Hayes: There’s so much I want to say to you (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 21–September 9, 2012). Photograph by Sheldan C. Collins

Explore works from this exhibition
in the Whitney's collection

In the News

"Promising, stimulating"
—The New York Times

"In this tour-de-force solo show, the artist is equal parts activist, diarist, and journalist"
—Artinfo