The "Chromatic Earth" exhibition, a series of stunning paintings by Casper artist and art instructor Justin Hayward is now on display at Casper College’s Mildred Zahradnicek Gallery through Thursday, Dec. 3. A free artist’s talk will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 17.
Experience the Chromatic Earth Exhibition at Casper College
According to Hayward, “Chromatic Earth” is a series of 14 paintings inspired by the hot springs and thermal bacterial mats of Yellowstone National Park. “Through closely cropped compositions, the paintings move between landscape and abstraction, emphasizing the vivid colors, patterns, textures, and organic forms created by geothermal activity and microbial life. These naturally occurring forms, shaped by heat, water, and time, reveal a landscape that can appear almost imagined,” Hayward said.
“The series also reflects my personal connection to Yellowstone and the ways nature can encourage reflection, healing, transformation, and a deeper connection to the world around us,” he added.
“Hayward’s paintings are masterpieces in craftsmanship and design. Typically, his landscape and figurative pieces are ultrarealistic. While this exhibition lends to the careful observation of Yellowstone, the overall effect appears more abstract, and the viewer’s eye is drawn to dynamic color in the landscape,” said Valerie Innella Maiers, director of galleries and visual arts instructor.
Hayward, who has served as a full-time visual arts faculty member at the college since 2007, painted the 2024, 2025, and 2027 award-winning portraits for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department conservation stamp and created the official paintings for the United States Air Force Academy classes of 2024, 2025, and 2026.
Originally from Traverse City, Michigan, Hayward received his BFA in illustration from Brigham Young University and his MFA in painting from the New York Academy of Art. He also studied at the Florence Academy of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and with several renowned artists across the country.
Hayward has been a full-time drawing and painting instructor at Casper College since 2007. He has exhibited in numerous galleries and at national juried shows and has completed many commissions for private collectors and businesses.
The exhibit and talk are free and open to the public. The Mildred Zahradnicek Gallery is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday, in the Music Building on the Casper College campus. The artist’s talk on Nov. 17 will be held at noon in Room 104 of the Dick and Marialyce Tobin Visual Arts Center.
At a Glance:
- Event Focus
- “Chromatic Earth” art exhibition featuring 14 paintings inspired by Yellowstone National Park geothermal features and microbial mats
- Free public artist talk exploring the intersection of landscape, abstraction, and personal healing
- Key Participants
- Justin Hayward, Casper College drawing and painting instructor and featured artist
- Valerie Innella Maiers, Casper College director of galleries and visual arts instructor
- Logistics: Dates, Times, and Locations
- Exhibition through: Thursday, Dec. 3, 2026
- Gallery hours: 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Thursday
- Gallery location: Mildred Zahradnicek Gallery, Music Building, Casper College campus
- Artist talk: Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026, at noon
- Talk location: Room 104, Dick and Marialyce Tobin Visual Arts Center, Casper College campus
- Admission and Registration
- Free and open to the public
- No advance tickets or registration required
