Virtual Exhibitions

About the Exhibition

Kevin Hailey: THE LIT HYPHAE TRADE

On View:  January, 12 - April, 13, 2023

Reception: February, 16 2023 | 6 to 8 pm

Hotel Indigo | 24 West Franklin Street | Free & Open to the Public

Maryland Art Place in partnership with Hotel Indigo Baltimore is pleased to present "THE LIT HYPHAE TRADE”, a solo exhibition by baltimore-based artist, Kevin Hailey.  The exhibition is on view at Hotel Indigo Baltimore, located at 24 West Franklin St. from January 12 to April 13. A public reception will take place Thursday, February 16 from 6 to 8 pm in the Hotels Poets Modern Cocktails and Eats.

About: 

The Lit Hyphae Trade is a series of paintings concerning the movements and dynamics of mycelium.  Hyphae are the branches in mycelium; a fungal network that is found everywhere from our guts to the deep woods. Mycelium acts as a communication for trade of nutrients and sustainer of life. The hyphae forms have proven to be an inspiring subject in my painting both in form and concept. The assumed chaos of the structure of mycelium under a microscope displays an eerily similar gesture to my paint strokes. I have unconsciously adapted this technique within the single dimensional paintings in this show. I have also begun to believe in cosmic mycelium further depicted in the paintings with rich cerebral-like color galaxies.

It is known that mycelium has adapted a unique “barter system” for nutrients with which the various plants and organisms are communicating through, thus posing mycelium itself as language. Mycelium as a language never displays a one-sided front. This approach to communication and bartering allows the plants the nutrients needed through a holistic and balanced behavioral model. I believe this possible Lingua Franca, established for the underground fungal world, could provide an example of how humans may achieve a more symbiotic and connected relationship with other earthly organisms, and ultimately ourselves.

-  Kevin Hailey is a Baltimore based artist, born in Colorado by way of the San Francisco Bay Area. He has exhibited in LA, San Francisco, Denver, Portland, Berlin, Brooklyn and now Baltimore. @kevinhaileyart