Forrest Moses was born in Virginia in May of 1934. A direction was established by the time he entered Washington and Lee University to receive a BA degree in Fine Arts in 1956.
Three years service as a naval officer gave Moses an opportunity to spend time in the Philippines, Japan and other Far East locations. The Japan experience had a strong visual and philosophical influence on him. Moses felt at home with the organized space and uncluttered environments. Now Moses observes, “An empty space, an empty table, creates tension with anticipation of what might occupy it. While an object finds its importance to the space
it occupies.”
After service, Moses spent a year in Europe discovering the art and architecture presented during his Art History education and then in 1959, he entered Pratt Institute in New York for two years graduate work in design.
The Pratt years put solidly in focus, by intensive exercise and discipline, design principles relating to shape, space, scale, texture, color, etc.
Moses then worked for three years in Houston, Texas, as a designer of interiors, furniture, ceramics and there developed an intent to paint full time.
In 1965 he moved from Houston to the Monterey Peninsula, California. It was a decision that painting was for him an exercise for contemplation of nature and the unfoldment of truth by observation. An intense period of work followed and for three years, his interest centered on the content of the land and sea and that fragile line of meeting. Isolation and routine provided the time for introspection and work.
Now there developed in Moses a need for place. The “Place” is crucial for it becomes the sanctuary for the heart. For Moses, it was to be a place in the sun. New Mexico has been Moses’ home since 1969.
The work produced since 1965 has created more than 40 one-man shows for galleries, universities and museums in Seattle, San Francisco, Santa Fe, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Denver, Albuquerque, Austin, and others. There have been numerous group shows, invitations, lectures, teaching and print making activities. Moses’ work is established in many private, public and corporate collections.
