Hayley Lever (American, 1876-1958) was born in 1876 in Adelaide, South Australia.  Best known as a Post-Impressionist of marine scenes, he was active in St. Ives, England, beginning in 1895.  In 1911, Ernest Lawson persuaded him to emigrate to the United States.  The Depression forced him to give up his home in Caldwell, New Jersey.  He then became the director of the Studio Art Club, in Mt. Vernon, New York.  He spent his summers at Gloucester, MA, for twenty years.  In addition to Caldwell, New Jersey, he painted in Manasquan, New Jersey; Woodstock, New York; Nantucket, Vermont; and Monhegan Island, Maine.  In later years his palette became more vibrant.  His signature was typically bold and slashing during the 1910s-20s, while his later signatures have fewer flourishes.

Studied Prince Alfred Club, Adelaide; ASL; Paris; London

Member NAD; Am. Painters & Engravers; NAC; CAFA; Royal British Artists, London; ANA; Royal West of England Acad.; New SA; Woodstock AA

Exhibited PAFA Ann., 1913-32, 1940 (medal, 1917); Corcoran Gal. Biennials; NAC, 1914-15; Pan-Pacific Expo, 1915; NAD, 1914; NAC, 1914-1916; Phila. WCC, 1918; Montclair AA; AIC; S. Indp. A; Salons of Am.; WMAA; Newark AC; Macbeth, Rehn, Ferargil, Daniels, French & Co., Clayton, & other NYC galleries

Work PAFA; MMA; BM; Montclair AM; BMA; CGA; White House; Ft.Worth MA; Dallas Mus. FA; LAMA; Detroit IA; Woodstock AA; PMG; Adelaide Art Mus.; Little Rock AM; Salt Lake City Univ. Mus.; Syracuse Mus. FA; Antioch College; CAM; Lincoln Univ. (NE)

Resources WW53; WW47; Curtis, Curtis, and Lieberman, 32; Woodstock AA; Falk, Exh. Record Series