Raymond Lionel Haywood

Biography
Raymond L. Haywood is a Berkeley-born abstract expressionist painter and educator with a rich artistic career spanning several decades. He received his BFA from the University of California at San Diego and his MFA from San Francisco State University[1][3]. Haywood's artistic practice is deeply influenced by his background in carpentry and woodworking, which informs his unique approach to painting on wood panels[2]. His work often explores themes of African American identity, emotional responses to societal issues, and abstract landscapes[2][4]. Haywood is a founding member of the Art of the African Diaspora exhibition at the Richmond Art Center and has been a consistent participant in The Art of Living Black exhibition for over two decades[3]. Currently, he teaches construction technologies at Freedom High School in Oakley, California, while maintaining his studio practice at the historic Carleton Street Studios in Berkeley[1][4].

Artists statement
Raymond L. Haywood's artistic practice is a meditative journey that harnesses the power of action painting as a healing force. Through his abstract expressionist approach, Haywood seeks to capture fleeting moments that exist at the intersection of the ethereal and the enduring. His work, deeply rooted in his experiences as a carpenter and artisan builder, translates emotion into vibrant color and abstract landscapes[1]. By employing a variety of techniques including mixed media, silkscreen printing, and painting on wood panels, Haywood creates compositions that reflect both the beauty inherent in African American culture and the complex emotions arising from societal issues[2]. His paintings, often inspired by specific locales he has visited, serve as visual theorems that explore the delicate balance between the transient nature of experience and the persistent echoes in our collective memory[1]. Through this process, Haywood not only finds personal solace but also invites viewers to engage with the transformative power of art, offering a moment of reflection and connection in an ever-changing world.