Gabriel Hayes was invariably identified in the press as a woman, wife, mother and grandmother before being acknowledged as an artist, which distracted from serious critical reception of her work, writes Paula Murphy
Gabriel Hayes (1909-78) was a multi-disciplinary artist, but her sculptural work in particular abounds across the country, notably in churches. There was little that she did not turn her hand to: she painted subject pieces and portrait work; she carved in 3D (free-standing sculpture) and in relief (carvings on and in buildings); she worked in bronze and stone; she designed trophies, medallions and coinage; and she did independent print work and illustrations for books.
