Autumn de Forest Inspires the Next Generation of Artists
Early exposure to the arts can positively impact a child. Master artists Rembrandt van Rijn and Pablo Picasso didn’t wait until they were grown up to realize their artistic talents, they started creating art at a young age.
Artistic prodigy Autumn de Forest recognizes the power of art, which is why she contributed her time and talents to youth in Harlem at the Art Horizons LeRoy Neiman Art Center earlier this year.
Autumn de Forest at her exhibition held at the LeRoy Neiman Art Center in Harlem (Photo courtesy of Carole Sorrell)
The center held the “Autumn de Forest: Selected Works” exhibition from December 2, 2016 to January 31, 2017. The LeRoy Neiman Art Center is a community-based arts center in New York serving young people and families in need. Renowned artist LeRoy Neiman established the center with Arts Horizons.
“This exhibition is a reflection of our vision to continue Mr. Neiman’s legacy and to affirm our commitment that when children are exposed to art at an early age, it can be a game changer,” LeRoy Neiman Art Center Executive Director and Curator Marline A. Martin said.
Autumn de Forest with collectors at her exhibition held in Harlem (Photo courtesy of Carole Sorrell)
Autumn, now 15, began painting at the age of 5 debuting her work a year later. Her career has skyrocketed since. Autumn was recently honored with a solo exhibition at the Butler Institute for American Art in Youngstown, Ohio and the International Giuseppe Sciacca Award for Painting and Art for her art and humanitarian efforts.
Autumn did more than expose Harlem’s youth to her expressive art. The artist led two master classes to instruct kids and young adults on how to create self portraits. Autumn conducts similar art lessons in schools across the nation as a member of the Turnaround Arts program.
“It’s an honor to be able to see an epiphany arise in their eyes when they start to finish the piece,” Autumn says.
The artwork donated to the LeRoy Neiman Art Center by Autumn and the Park West Foundation (Photo courtesy of Carole Sorrell)
In her commitment to the LeRoy Neiman Art Center, Autumn’s passion for giving back started not long after she took a brush to her first canvas. As early as age 6, Autumn donated artwork to benefit various organizations and causes. She continued this practice at the LeRoy Neiman Art Center, where she and the Park West Foundation donated a work of her art. Proceeds from auctioning off the artwork benefitted the center.
“Autumn is a young artist and philanthropist and serves as an excellent example that having the opportunity to embrace the arts at an early can help you to do extraordinary things,” Martin said.
To collect works by Autumn de Forest, contact Park West’s gallery consultants at (800) 521-9654 ext. 4, or sales@parkwestgallery.com after business hours.
