Who’s Minding the Gallery?: Roy De Forest

Roy De Forest

Born in North Platte Nebraska in 1930, Roy De Forest moved to Yakima, Washington in the third grade. Since that initial big move, he remained largely a West Coast resident, living primarily in Washington and California. De Forest began his higher education in 1947 as an engineering student at Yakima Junior College, but in 1950 he was awarded a scholarship to the California School of Fine Arts (later renamed the San Francisco Art Institute), which he attended from 1950-1952. While pursuing his bachelor’s degree, De Forest studied with Clyfford Still, whose influence led De Forest toward an Abstract Expressionist artistic mode of expression.

After receiving an MFA from San Francisco State College in 1958, De Forest taught at several West Coast institutions including Contra Costa Junior College (1960), San Francisco State College (1961–62), and Junior Center of Arts and Sciences (1964-65).

In 1965, De Forest moved to Port Costa, California and accepted a position as professor of art at the University of California at Davis. There he worked with artists such as Wayne Thibaud, William T. Wiley, Robert Arneson, and Manual Neri.

With over 70 solo exhibitions, and over 100 group exhibits to his credit, in the United States, Canada, Yugoslavia, Brazil and France, De Forest demonstrated the broad appeal of his artwork. De Forest died in 2007, at the age of 77.

Collectors of his work include The Contemporary Museum, Honolulu; The Art Institute of Chicago; Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; Whitney Museum of American Art; and Yale University Art Gallery.

Partnership

The partnership between Yakima Valley College and the Larson Gallery Guild creates an environment where ideas flourish.

The Larson Gallery Guild supports the mission of the Larson Gallery to foster curiosity and appreciation for the visual arts in our diverse community.

Your financial donations fund Larson Gallery Guild programming which includes staffing, publications and materials, special events, lectures, workshops, visiting artists, and jurors.

Yakima Valley College supports the Larson Gallery through the maintenance of the building, providing the director’s salary and benefits, technology, security, and work-study students.

Hours

During Exhibitions:
Tue – Fri 10 AM-5 PM
Sat 12 PM-5 PM
(Note: Schedule varies during opening reception days)

Mission

Fostering curiosity and appreciation for the visual arts in our diverse community.

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Vision

Cultivating a Love of Art