Durham native Stephen Hayes gives voice to the African American experience, through both historical interpretation contemporary mixed-media artwork. He is a creator: he sculpts, blacksmith, welds, print makes, carves and weaves. Hayes is well known for creating life-sized sculptures, and is currently completing a bronze sculpture honoring the African-American soldiers who would have led the Union advance in what would become known as the Battle of Forks Road, to be unveiled on the grounds of the Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington, North Carolina in November 2021.