Oji Haynes
Lae Fendi
2024 En Foco Fellowship Exhibition
Nov 6 - 29, 2025
how can i make a piece of work
that smells like chicken wings and pork fried rice?
or that feels like dust moving through sunlight,
that tastes like the first sip of ginger ale
sometimes i just put things together
to see if they get along.
not everything has to make sense.
some things just need to feel right.
i been thinking about Ornette lately,
that idea of harmolodics lets sound move free
no one leading, nothing following.
that sits closely with how i think.
i let the materials talk to each other,
see who takes the first breath.
no rules just one thing flowing to the next.
i like when something is a little off.
leaning too far.
sitting funny.
holding a bit of silence.
i’m drawn to leftovers,
to things almost finished
but still hanging on.
hair oil on the counter.
duct tape on the back of the remote.
ashes in the incense holder.
Black people know how to turn shit up a notch.
make it fly.
make it look good.
that’s how i want the work to live.
and when it’s alive, it’s alive.
when it’s gone, we mourn
and remember
that’s how the work comes out.
not planned,
just moving toward what pulls me.
what makes me curious.
what feels alive.
- O
Zoom Artist Talk: Wed, Nov 12, 5:30 PM (PT)
Oji Haynes (American, b. 1999, he/him) is a very serious, silly, and sensitive artist, who confidently works on whatever makes him happy.
En Foco, Inc. is a non-profit that supports U.S. based photographers of African, Asian, Latino, Native American, and Pacific Islander heritage. Founded in 1974, En Foco makes their work visible to the art world, yet remains accessible to under-served communities. Through exhibitions, workshops, events, and publications, it provides professional recognition, honoraria, and assistance to photographers as they grow into different stages of their careers.