Erin Hayden is an interdisciplinary artist and educator working across painting, performance, drawing, poetry, video, installation, and ceramics. Her practice explores transformation, symbolism, and gesture, often weaving together visual language, movement, and sound. In recent years, she has developed a deep interest in handmade teaware, creating functional and sculptural ceramic pieces that engage with ritual, community, and the poetics of everyday life.

Hayden’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Stony Island Arts Bank, and Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea in Torino, Italy. She is passionate about sharing art as a tool for expression, reflection, and connection across all ages and communities.

Erin has taught art to learners ranging from preschoolers to seniors, in public schools, universities, and community arts programs throughout the Chicagoland area. She holds a BFA in Painting and a BS in Art Education from Illinois State University, and an MFA in Art Theory and Practice from Northwestern University.

Currently based in Oak Park, she teaches ceramics at Riverside Arts Center and will be expanding into classes in painting, drawing, and performance. Her teaching emphasizes experimentation, care, and play—inviting students to discover their unique creative voices.