Voices of Future's Past

Artist Stephen Hayes American, born 1983

Datecast 2017; 2023

MediumPlaster, Hydro-stone, ceramic, wood, spray paint, oil-rubbed bronze, and audio

Dimensionsheight, width, and depth: 58 × 24 × 13 in. (147.3 × 61 × 33 cm)

ClassificationsTime Based Media

Credit LinePurchased with funds from the William R. Roberson Jr. and Frances M. Roberson Endowed Fund for North Carolina Art

Object number2023.13.1a-c

On View

Not on view

Label TextDurham-born artist Stephen Hayes combines new materials with found items to create one-of-a-kind pieces. He exposes cultural norms and traditions that contradict stereotypical perceptions of African American experiences, emphasizing communal voices and striving to “tell a story that is often not heard.”

In this work, one of a series, he explores the legacy of being Black in America. The audio features young men from the Washington, DC, area articulating their experiences growing up across various socioeconomic backgrounds. Their voices are paired with busts of adult men—often friends of the artist—to emphasize generational connections. Hayes views this work as an opportunity to both provide and access a safe platform for emotional expression.ProvenanceCreated by the artist, 2017; Sold to NCMA, 2023.Exhibition HistoryWilmington, NC, Cameron Art Museum, “Voices of Future’s Past," November 13, 2021–March 20, 2022.

Raleigh, NC, North Carolina Museum of Art, “NC Artists Connections," September 4, 2021–February 13, 2022.

Raleigh, NC, North Carolina Museum of Art, “The People's Collection Reimagined," June 17, 2024-April 7, 2025. Object Rights Statement

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