4 minute read
Haley Eyre: New and Bonkers
"Poser Comple," 2018.
“This image describes my struggle with imposter syndrome. From afar, I feel I can pass but upon closer inspection I fear my fakeness is apparent.”
HALEY EYRE: NEW AND BONKERS
BY ALLISON PENKO
Haley Eyre is an emerging artist from Calgary with big dreams. Haley’s signature style is bright, colourful, and comedic. Her subjects range from tackling social issues to personal struggles. A recent graduate of the Alberta University of the Arts (formerly ACAD), she chose to major in photography because she says, “I love being able to capture moments from reality and present them in beautiful or unique ways.”
“I Don’t Want To Clean,” 2018. A series that explores the rejection of gender roles.
“Would You Say That To Your Mother?,” 2018. From a series juxtaposing Mother Mary and things men have said to my friends and I.
Haley wants her work to spark conversation and debate. She shares, “Sometimes I go for subtlety. Other times I like to be blunt. I like to make art that obscures uneasiness within pleasant aesthetics.” Haley’s feminist work, she says, is “about saying goodbye to toxic masculinity and about speaking out and standing up for what you believe in, in the hopes of creating a better future.”
“Colour Psychology Yellow,” 2019. From the Colour Psychology series.
“Alien Nation,” 2019. A fashion shoot about the feeling of alienation.
Sometimes I go for subtlety. Other times I like to be blunt.
Personal experiences and current events inspire her: “I take inspiration from everything! From people I see walking down the street, to artists such as Sandy Skoglund, to random Instagram posts I come across, to my last trip to Value Village. I’m inspired by bright colours, crazy maximalist places, and people just doing anything new and bonkers.”
“Fashion Cats,” 2018. From a series where I explore my cat allergies and the pain I experience, both physically and mentally, from them.
Despite her severe allergy to cats, she admits, “I love cats to the point of obsession.” Haley’s series Fashion Cats features her and her beloved animals. The photos themselves are almost painful to view, as she visibly struggles with her allergies in her self portrait work.
“Sour Face, Angelina,” 2018. A fun and silly series where I feed unknowing but consenting participants a super sour candy to capture their expressions.
Haley is also the creator of an art and style magazine called UNABASHED, which started as a school project about local artists. Of the project, she states, “I wanted to start a magazine that challenges societal standards of beauty and promotes being true to one’s self.”
I LIKE TO MAKE ART THAT OBSCURES UNEASINESS WITHIN PLEASANT AESTHETICS.
“Ladies Don’t Have Body Hair,” 2018. A feminist series where I explore the things society says women shouldn’t do.
Looking forward, Haley aspires to bring her bonkers ideas into the mainstream fashion and advertising industry. She says, “I want to help create a future where people don’t look at magazines and … hate how they look. Big goals, I know, but this girl dreams big.”
“Inner Beauty: Jade,” 2017. A collage project in which I photographed people who felt ugly and transformed them into a blooming beings.
Haley Eyre, Detail, Ladies Don’t Sit Like That, Digital Photograph, 2018
Follow Haley’s work online at haleyeyrephotography.com and on IG: @haleyeyre_art
Alberta University of the Arts proudly sponsors alum Haley Eyre at the PhotoED Magazine / Exposure Festival of Photography— Photo Inspiration Event in Calgary, February 2020.
