About The Artist
Hailey Jo Smith is a fine artist, muralist, educator, and entertainer based in Phoenix, Arizona.
Hailey Jo Art's Story
Hailey has been an artist since she could hold a crayon! Even as a child she was extremely passionate about capturing life's experiences in color. Hailey grew up with a very supportive family that always encouraged her to pursue her dreams as an artist. Hailey is a self taught artist, learning anatomy, proportion, value, and color theory at age 10. She especially loved to draw horses, and found absolute joy in her growing artistic capabilities. Throughout middle and high school she used her foundational skills to explore more emotional, abstract, and existential themes, beginning to show a true depth to her work.
In 2019 Hailey enrolled at The University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ, to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art. Throughout her college experience she became a prolific painter and found her signature style - swirls! Her work from her time in college is infused with profound themes of love, unity, and spirituality, as well as more challenging themes of uncertainty, loss, and grief.
After graduating with Honors in 2023, Hailey lived, volunteered, and traveled through eight countries in Southeast Asia. Inspired by new perspectives and empowered by the kindness of those she met on her trip, she offered to paint her first mural for a family farm in Laos. From there, she went on to donate two more murals in Thailand and the Philippines, embarking on her career as a traveling artist.
When Hailey returned in 2024, she officially launched Hailey Jo Art, LLC and started her networking in the Phoenix area.
The Joybus Mural was the first mural commission she received in the United States, and it is still her largest project to date at over 3,000 square feet. Hailey has now painted nearly 20 murals in the Phoenix area, and is actively searching for her next projects.
As her business grew, she also began selling prints, offering paint parties, and featuring at live painting events. Hailey now participates in local art events weekly, teaches monthly finger painting classes at the Children's Museum of Phoenix, and produces commission pieces, all while continuing to maintain her own artistic practice.
Hailey's dream for the future is to launch a non-profit global mural donation project, in which she will connect with people from cultures around the globe; art as the interface. Through conversations with local artists, community members, and youth, she wants to discover the best possible future - through the perspectives of humans around the world. Hailey feels that she can make a difference by combining her love of travel and art - bringing art opportunities, imagination, and hope with her along the way.
The HJA Way
These four values are the guiding light of my art practice and business. These describe what I do, why I do it, and what you can expect when working with me.
JOY
My art expresses joy - simply for the sake of it. I believe that art is a powerful conduit of energy, which leads me to create with another intention - awakening joy within others. This is what fuels my vision, my style, and my earnestness to create with and for my community.
PASSION
There is nothing more fulfilling to me than this work. No feeling more gratifying than finally deciding that a masterpiece is completed. It is with great passion that I make a living chasing my most colorful dreams!
INTENTION
Through all of my artwork and in every interaction, I attempt to convey my soul, with gratitude and appreciation at the center. My mission is to serve others and myself through my artwork, so that all who choose to engage may find themselves reflected and uplifted by my creations.
CONNECTION
The main value that drives my work is connection. I speak to my audience directly by inviting them into the heart of my art. I pour my essence into my work to inspire conversations, to encourage questions, and to facilitate a sense of mutual understanding between myself and the viewer. My art opens a window into the gratitude and joy I practice every day.