East Hampton, NY – Guild Hall proudly presents “Dark Garden,” a captivating site-specific installation by artist Peter Dayton. This long-term installation, now on view in the stairwell of the newly refurbished Hilarie and Mitchell Morgan Theater, takes viewers on an imaginative journey through Dayton’s unique interpretation of nature.
Meet the Artist – Special Event:
On Sunday, November 3, at 2 PM, Guild Hall’s Director of Visual Arts Melanie Crader will join Peter Dayton in a live discussion about his work and creative process. Tickets are $15 and available at GuildHall.org/programs.
About the Installation:
Peter Dayton’s “Dark Garden” creates a bold visual statement with a stark black and white background that contrasts sharply against vivid, oversaturated flowers. Using his signature technique of repeating a single flower—this time, a begonia—at different scales and in unusual colors, Dayton transports viewers into a world that feels both foreboding and strangely beautiful. Inspired by his discovery of vintage House and Garden magazines, Dayton’s floral collages embrace the bold patterns of pop art while detaching flowers from their natural forms.
Artist’s Statement:
“Dark Garden is a place I find to be slightly foreboding and weird but oddly beautiful too,” says Dayton, describing his choice to challenge viewers’ perception of nature through color and repetition. This surreal take on floral imagery invites visitors into a world that blurs the lines between the familiar and the fantastical.
About Peter Dayton:
A former punk rock musician, Dayton transitioned to visual art in the late 1980s, drawing from a rich background that includes art school in Europe and a degree from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Dayton’s work often critiques and explores themes in pop art, abstract expressionism, and feminism, and has been commissioned by top brands and exhibited internationally.
Guild Hall: Located in East Hampton, Guild Hall has been a leading cultural institution since 1931. Currently undergoing a state-of-the-art renovation, Guild Hall continues to provide the East End community with groundbreaking exhibitions and performances.
Support:
Visual Arts programming is funded by the Michael Lynne Museum Endowment and the Melville Straus Family Endowment, with additional support from esteemed patrons and organizations.
For more details, visit guildhall.org.
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