Dream State:
Foraged Pigment Paintings

About the Artists

Alexander Fals and Hayley Dayis are a couple that work with foraged mineral pigments sourced from volcanic soils in the region of Cauca, Colombia. Both of them were born and raised in the upstate New York Finger Lakes Region, and discovered the art of natural pigment painting at different points along their journeys.

Hayley Dayis Artist Statement:
In a world of fast-paced responsibilities and expectations, art is my refuge of safety, rejuvenation and self-expression. Painting slows the world down to the speed of my imagination. Each winter I live in Cauca, Colombia foraging volcanic soils by hand and processing them into paint. I unearth each color from cliff sides, highways, construction sites and riverbeds, and use them to tell stories of land and humanity on canvas. Each piece is an earthen container for the parts of us that need love, safety and rest.

Alexander Fals Artist Statement:
As a young man I was deeply moved by the unique painting practices of my family in Cauca, Colombia. Even though my Uncle Billy died before I could meet him, when I looked at his natural pigment paintings I saw an undeniable element of myself within them. I began living in Popayán, Colombia as an exchange student in 2007. Since then I have spent a decade traveling between upstate NY and Popayan, seeking to express the love and mystery of life through art. The colors I paint with are, like my uncle’s, made from pigment that I take directly from the Earth in Colombia. They are dried, ground, sifted to a fine matrix and diluted in clean
water and a biodegradable adhesive. With these colors I paint the innermost visions of my heart.