Born to a deaf mother, Allen Thomas Hayes learned the power of visual expression early on in life. Interested in linguistics and codes, in high school Hayes transformed this into a talent for painting and printmaking. His clear talent won him a scholarship to Northern Illinois University, where he studied printmaking with a focus on etching. Hayes made a name for himself with his own art as well as the criticisms and reviews he wrote for a national art publication. When he applied to the Art Institute of Chicago, he was eagerly accepted to one of five graduate positions – from a pool of 3,500 applicants!

Hayes's unique, postmodern etchings with their use of remarkable semiotics and colors can be found in private and public exhibitions and collections internationally.