Balancing on the edge of abstraction and figuration, Hayon populates his works with a whimsical cast of anthropomorphic animals and zoomorphic designs rendered in his signature cartoonish, yet sophisticated, style.

Opening in December at Mindy Solomon Gallery in Miami during Art Basel Miami Beach, Jaime Hayon’s solo exhibition “Bestial” immerses visitors into the Spanish artist and designer’s exuberant, highly imaginative universe through a collection of new paintings and sculptures. Balancing on the edge of abstraction and figuration, Hayon populates his works with a whimsical cast of anthropomorphic animals and zoomorphic designs rendered in his signature cartoonish, yet sophisticated, style. True to its name, the exhibition pulses with an untamed, animalistic energy, heightened by vivid hues and furious brushstrokes. Offering a nod to the enduring symbolism of animals in art history, the works on display tap into the artist’s psyche as well as explore the intricate interplay between humanity and the natural world.

Animals have always Expressed Strength, Rage, and Passion

The paintings on display are brimming with dynamic energy. A whirlwind of fantastical creatures leaps off the artist’s large canvases, while in smaller, still life paintings they are transformed into decorative elements. Underpinned by his perpetual search for self-understanding, Hayon’s troupe of kooky characters conveys a range of emotions, from fear and desire, to fragility and introspection. “With this exhibition, I am returning to the origin of everything—the most visceral part of my work,” the artist reflects. “From the very depths of my being, I attempt to express my fantasy, my world, through painting—those free-flowing brushstrokes that naturally create the beastly forms of fauna and flora.”

In his still life paintings, Hayon contrasts luminous colours against shadowy or muted backdrops, an aesthetic inspired by ancient Egyptian art and Flemish flower paintings. This interplay between light and dark adds an emotional depth to the works while linking them to a broader artistic heritage. “In Bestial, I highlight the crucial role animals have played in art history, symbolizing emotions and human experiences across civilizations,” Hayon explains. “From the Egyptians who humanized animals in their gods to artists like Picasso, Dalí, and Rousseau, animals have always expressed strength, rage, and passion.” By drawing on these historical precedents, Hayon bridges past and present, using the natural world as a mirror for human emotion and societal critique.

Complementing the paintings, Hayon’s sculptures translate his surreal visions into three-dimensional forms. Working with materials such as glass and fiberglass, he transforms his whimsical characters into tactile objects that invite closer examination, further developing the themes of hybridization and interconnectedness, creating a cohesive narrative across mediums.

 More than a visual feast, Bestial offers a whimsical yet profound meditation on the connections—and disconnections—between humanity and the environment, inviting viewers to embrace the unknown, explore their own emotions, and reimagine the world through his uniquely playful perspective.