Terry Hays: A Safe Place

Where: Ro2 Art Gallery

2606 Bataan St.

Dallas, TX 75212

When: March 1, 2025 - April 5, 2025

OPENING RECEPTION: March 8, 2025 from 7-10pm

(Dallas) Ro2 Art is proud to present A Safe Place by Terry Hays. The exhibition will open March 1, 2025, with a special preview period from March 1 to March 8, and remain on view through April 5, 2025, at Ro2 Art Gallery, located at 2606 Bataan St., Dallas, TX. The official opening reception will take place on March 8 from 7 pm to 10 pm.

A Safe Place is a solo exhibition by Texas-based artist Terry Hays, whose intricate, sculptural works exist at the intersection of painting, installation, and object-making. Meticulously crafted from layered cut-wood constructions, Hays’ work operates as both artifact and architecture– part map, part shield, part memory. Drawing from a wide range of global artistic traditions, including Indonesian and Aboriginal art, Japanese ukiyo-e prints, and contemporary street art, his compositions merge pattern, texture, and vivid color to create immersive environments that blur the boundaries between the decorative and the deeply personal.

A former scenic artist for theater and television, Hays has spent his career mastering the art of world-building. In A Safe Place, his most ambitious body of work to date, he constructs intricate visual landscapes that feel at once sacred and strangely familiar. These works function as portals– offering spaces of reflection, protection, and transformation while challenging conventional notions of materiality and storytelling. His ability to bridge craftsmanship, storytelling, and cultural history makes his work impossible to overlook– positioning him as an artist whose impact on Texas’ contemporary art landscape continues to grow.

A Safe Place will be on view from March 1 through April 5, 2025, with an opening reception on March 8 from 7-10 pm. On the evening of the opening reception, interdisciplinary artist Taylor Cleveland will unveil a stunning projection mapping installation on the exterior of the gallery. More than an exhibition, this is an experience– one that lingers long after you step away.

About The Artist

Terry Hays is a Texas-born artist whose work explores the fusion of cultures, history, and contemporary visual language. He earned a Bachelor of Science from West Texas State University and an MFA from Texas Christian University before teaching painting and drawing at the University of Manitoba School of Art in Canada. Early in his career, Hays focused on immersive installation work, transforming entire spaces with intricate materials and spatial interventions.

After returning to Texas, he worked as a large-scale set painter for stage productions and television, later teaching scenic painting at Southern Methodist University. In 2002, Hays rekindled his personal artistic practice, drawing inspiration from global art traditions from Australia and Indonesia to New Guinea, China and Japan, as well as street art and full-body tattoos. John Beardsley’s Gardens of Revelation is also influential to his work.

His work reflects his interests in dichotomies: past and present, exotic and familiar, real and unreal, as well as his quest to redefine color, texture, and pattern in contemporary landscape. Influenced by visionary artists and cultural iconography, Hays’ art is a fusion of tradition and transformation, continuously evolving in response to the world around him.

Show Statement

After years of working as a scenic artist in the demanding theater and film industries, I transitioned back to creating art with the intent to rediscover the joy of painting. The shift from the high-pressure world of set painting to the more personal, introspective process of studio work was a challenge, but it also opened up new possibilities. I began to reflect on my past—my family, my upbringing in small-town Texas, and the art forms that surrounded me as a child. My father, a minister, was a painter, and our home was filled with handmade items like quilts, shirts, and curtains. These objects weren’t just functional; they were part of a larger story, woven into the fabric of daily life. This background shaped my understanding of art as a form of expression grounded in love, necessity, and memory.

As I started to explore my own artistic journey again, I found inspiration in the work of outsider artists like James Hampton and Emery Blagdon, whose creations were spiritually driven and made from found objects. Their work embodied a purity of intention that deeply resonated with me. I began experimenting with materials, creating pieces that were both physical and spiritual, a reflection of personal memories and family history.

The altar pieces were the first works that truly captured this new direction. Made from found wood, stacked and painted, these pieces became a space for my thoughts and emotions. This led to further exploration of themes like family, memory, and transformation, expressed through symbolic forms such as altars, genetically modified organisms, and landscapes. Each piece became a way to tell my story—of growing up in Texas, of family, and of the ongoing search for meaning.

Ultimately, my work serves as a shield, a safe space. It’s a place where I can confront personal history, explore the stories that shape me, and offer a sense of protection and peace. When my work leaves the studio, it carries that power with it, inviting viewers into a space where they, too, can find solace.

The Ro2 Art Mission

Ro2 Art is committed to working with artists who push the boundaries of contemporary art, artists whose work has the potential to shape the future of the art world. Rooted in Dallas, we focus on elevating the exceptional talent within our region and beyond, showcasing work that is bold, thought-provoking, and deserving of serious attention from collectors and institutions alike. Since 2010, Ro2 Art has built a reputation for curating exhibitions that engage both the mind and the senses, presenting art that challenges conventional expectations. We proudly represent artists — emerging and established — who are unafraid to take risks and remain steadfast in their vision, offering work that is as enduring as it is impactful. Authenticity and artistic integrity guide everything we do, ensuring that each exhibition resonates on a deeper level. Our dedication to supporting artists in Dallas and beyond is not simply a nod to the local community; it is a recognition of the outstanding work being produced here — work that stands to be part of a global conversation. Ro2 Art is more than a gallery; it is a space where discovery happens, where the next great voice in contemporary art may be found, and where every exhibition offers the chance to experience something truly different.

About Ro2 Art

Ro2 Art is a contemporary fine art gallery based in Dallas’ vibrant Tin District, just west of Downtown. Representing a diverse roster of emerging, mid-career, and established contemporary artists, Ro2 Art presents innovative and thought-provoking exhibitions across multiple disciplines, ranging from painting and sculpture to interdisciplinary works.

Founded in 2010 by Susan Roth Romans and Jordan Roth, Ro2 Art continues to evolve, committed to pushing the boundaries of contemporary art and fostering dialogue around cultural and social themes. The gallery maintains strong ties with organizations such as The MAC and Cedars Union, and is a proud member of Contemporary Art Dealers of Dallas (CADD).

Twice named Dallas Observer’s “Best Art Gallery”, Ro2 Art was also honored with the Obelisk Award from the North Texas Business Council for the Arts for its contributions to the cultural landscape. As the gallery evolves, it remains dedicated to engaging both local and global audiences through its dynamic programming and commitment to supporting artists who challenge the status quo. More info: www.ro2art.com

All works will be on view from March 1, 2025 through April 5, 2025. For more information, visit www.ro2art.com, or call Jordan Roth at 214.406.8819