SWEETBAY GALLERY APRIL – MAY 2026
In 2003, while waiting to cross a street in Madrid, I was compelled to take a photo of the very pointy shoes worn by the woman next to me. That random moment started my journey to photograph the beauty of the ordinary only as it is found, in natural light and without interference or rearrangement. Found still life: I was hooked.
An unexpected crossing of paths—a chance encounter—can feel like fate. This is often the case during my photo walks. Had I chosen a different place or street or day, an image would’ve been lost. It’s a treasure hunt of sorts. You never know what you’ll discover and that uncertainty energizes the endeavor.
Filmmaker David Lynch once said, “I like to look at a close-up of some tree bark, or a small bug, or a piece of pie. Get in close and the textures are wonderful.” Aligned with that idea, I think my most successful images are the ones where you don’t immediately recognize the subject or situation. They’re sharing a little secret with you, revealing something previously hidden or overlooked.
Driven by the principles of wabi-sabi, much of my work celebrates impermanence and imperfection. You can visit me on instagram @wabi.sabi.heather
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After three decades as a graphic designer for the publishing and music industries, HEATHER HAYMAN (b. 1970) now focuses her creativity on found still life photography, a practice she began in 2003. CHANCE ENCOUNTER—her first solo exhibition—features recent work from Spain, Japan, Aruba, and North Carolina. Hayman’s images can also be found in a series of zines published under her own imprint, Triple Digit Press.