Fred Hays: New Realities
Exploring Appalachia through light, color, and a lifetime of artistic vision.
A New Vision of Appalachia
Fred Hays: New Realities invited visitors to experience the Appalachian landscape through the eyes of one of West Virginia's most accomplished contemporary painters. Presented by the Parkersburg Art Center and curated by José Rizo, the exhibition celebrated Hays' ability to transform familiar scenes into vibrant compositions filled with light, atmosphere, and imagination. Rather than simply documenting the landscape, Hays challenged viewers to discover new perspectives within places they thought they already knew.
Painting Beyond Reality
Throughout the exhibition, Hays demonstrated how color and light can reshape the way we experience a landscape. Rolling hills, quiet farms, winding roads, and rural communities became expressive visual narratives where memory and emotion carried as much weight as geography. His paintings balanced realism with imagination, creating scenes that felt both familiar and entirely new.
The Artist
Born and raised in Kanawha County, West Virginia, Frederick D. Hays earned his Bachelor of Arts from West Virginia State College before completing a Master's degree in Painting at Marshall University. Over the course of his distinguished career, Hays has become recognized for his contemporary realist style and innovative use of color, exhibiting throughout West Virginia and beyond while earning numerous awards and honors for his work.
Light, Landscape & Perception
The exhibition centered on Hays' lifelong exploration of perception. His paintings reveal how shifting light, bold color palettes, and carefully constructed compositions can completely alter the way viewers interpret familiar places. Drawing inspiration from the history, culture, and natural beauty of Appalachia, each work encouraged visitors to slow down and experience the landscape through a fresh lens.
Curated by José Rizo
Curated by José Rizo, Fred Hays: New Realities reflected a shared commitment to preserving and celebrating Appalachian art. By bringing together a collection of Hays' work, the exhibition highlighted both his artistic achievements and his lasting influence on contemporary regional painting. The partnership between The Rizo Collection and the Parkersburg Art Center continued Rizo's mission of introducing exceptional Appalachian artists to wider audiences.
A Lasting Impression
More than a landscape exhibition, Fred Hays: New Realities explored the relationship between place, memory, and perception. Visitors left with a renewed appreciation for the richness of Appalachian culture and the enduring power of art to transform the ordinary into something extraordinary. The exhibition served as both a celebration of Hays' remarkable career and an invitation to see West Virginia through new eyes.