Opening March 20, 2026: Tinted

Something like belonging (Gara Gorge in yellow), 2026

Bitumen and oils on paper

76×56cm,

Tinted, an exhibition by Janna Hayes and Phoebe Hillard will open at New England Regional Art Museum on Thursday 20 March at 6pm.

This exhibition marks Hayes’ first presentation at NERAM and introduces a new direction in her practice, with works that include figures within the landscape. The paintings emerge from an instinctual, gesture-driven process and are shaped by a deep connection to the New England region. Working with restricted colour palettes, Hayes prioritises atmosphere and emotional resonance over formal description.

Hillard’s practice offers a contrasting approach. Her work is precise and technically disciplined, grounded in careful observation and attention to detail. In Hillard’s paintings, colour operates as a perceptual filter, subtly directing attention to structure, form, and light. Her subject choices create spaces onto which viewers can project their own meaning.

This is the third time Hayes and Hillard have exhibited alongside one another. Over several years, they have supported each other’s artistic development through shared studios, sustained dialogue, and ongoing critique. Their works come together here in a conversation between intuition and control, emotion and observation — two distinct ways of expressing personal narrative and lived experience.

Both artists are recipients of the Helen Dangar Bursary, and this exhibition reflects the continuity of a shared history as well as the evolution of two independent practices.

The opening will take place at 6pm on Thursday 20 March at the New England Regional Art Museum. All are warmly invited to attend.

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