A great number of his paintings following his years in Paris were associated with the Harlem Renaissance and black urban life in the city. However, while depictions of African-American life are what he is most remembered for, they are not his sole claim to fame; Hayden's career began with landscape portrayal and this continued simultaneously alongside his racially influenced art, with nature originally more prominent than the depictions of African-American life.
Following his years in Paris, a large portion of his paintings were connected to the Harlem Renaissance and black urban culture. Nevertheless, while he is primarily recognized for his portrayals of African-American life, these are not the entirety of his fame; Hayden's career began with landscape painting, which coexisted alongside his racially influenced art, with nature being more significant at first than the depictions of African-American life.