Hayes's work has been a vital part of discussions about protest culture for over a decade. By utilizing various mediums such as photography, video, and text, she interrogates how history is constructed and remembered. This is especially poignant in her projects like the ten-hour performance My Fellow American, which not only showcases her artistic prowess but also emphasizes the importance of voice and visibility in activism.

Moreover, her installation at the Monument Lab in Philadelphia poignantly addressed the absence of monuments dedicated to women, further illuminating the gaps in our cultural narratives. Hayes pushes us to reconsider how history is represented and who gets to speak in the historical narrative.

As a professor of fine art at the University of Pennsylvania and a participant in prestigious exhibitions such as the Whitney Biennial and the Venice Biennale, her influence resonates far beyond the gallery walls. Her work serves as a powerful reminder of the complexity of our times and the urgency of addressing the voices that have been marginalized.