Congratulations to Kirk Hayes whose painting tilted, "Cruelty's Gate," 2015 is now part of the San Antonio Museum of Art's permanent collection!⁠ The painting was donated to the museum by Alex Schmeltzer and Lisa Rotmil.⁠ ⁠ On the surface, Hayes' compositions appear to be collages of torn paper, corrugated cardboard, yellowing masking tape, or scraps of plywood, however these illusory scenes are created by the artist's hand through a self-taught process of using oil paint to imitate collage.⁠ ⁠ Both formally and conceptually the works in this recent exhibition are some of the artist’s most complex pictures to date. As a clever and darkly humorous culmination of Mr. Hayes’ masterful process, they also offer a sly commentary on the studio practice intertwined with the emotional contours of the artist’s personal narrative.⁠ ⁠ Pictured: Kirk Hayes / "Cruelty's Gate," 2015 / Oil on panel (trompe l'oeil) / 48 x 40 in (121.9 x 101.6 cm)