Bri Hayes is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and director of detroit contemporary. Hayes’ artwork explores themes of community, identity, and social justice. She has exhibited at Galerie Camille, Scarab Club, Detroit Artists Market, and more. Her most recent solo exhibition, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, was on display at Swords Into Plowshares Peace Center & Gallery in August 2023 featuring work about the past, present, and future history of Detroit and America. Hayes is also working on publishing a multi-volume photographic series, Detroit is the Blueprint, featuring stories, studio shots, and portraits of Detroit creatives of all different ages and backgrounds. 

Bri Hayes graduated from Oakland University in 2022 with a degree in K-12 Art Education. She fosters her students’ creativity and intersects her career as an artist & gallerist into the “classroom'' through non-traditional methods of education such as studio visits, mentorships, and workshops with local visual, literary, & performing artists, as well as chefs, gardeners, and activists. Hayes recently produced a children's talk show, Mixture of Four, that was hosted by four of her sixth graders as they interviewed and collaborated with local creatives and highlighted important areas in Detroit’s arts & cultural community. 

Hayes believes there is great power and importance in representation and education, especially under the lens of arts & culture. As director of detroit contemporary and president of the Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit, she has a vision to transform lives through arts & cultural education by extending beyond the walls of a traditional gallery. She aims to make visual, literary, and performing arts more accessible and inclusive by implementing programming such as artist representation & residencies, immersive exhibitions, youth classes, live performances, poetry readings, and health & healing practices.