Forte is a predominantly self taught artist who spent one year studying with Mary Beth McKenzie at The Art Students’ league of New York in 2006, and some time prior to 2003 engaged in studio style classes in Los Angeles, CA.

Resume

Exhibitions

  • 2025 “Solo Exhibition”, MMClay Ceramics Showroom, San Francisco, CA

  • 2025 “From The Archives”, Minimart Gallery, San Francisco, CA

  • 2023 The de Young Open, The de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA

  • 2023 “Tondo” Harman Projects, NY, NY

  • 2019 "PAINT GUIDE x Thinkspace", Los Angeles, CA

  • 2019 "artEast 2019" Suffolk, UK

  • 2019 "NO DEAD ARTISTS" Jonathan Ferarra Gallery, New Orleans, LA

  • 2018 "Fantasia" Curated by Paintguide, Spoke Art, San Francisco, CA

  • 2018 "Face Value", Lot5 Collective, London, UK

  • 2018 "Animalis", Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, OH

  • 2018 "BP Portrait Award Exhibition", The National Gallery, London, UK, Awarded Second Prize.

  • 2017 "RedBull House of Art Resident's Exhibition", Detroit, MI

  • 2017 "SKETCH Art as Process", Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, OH

  • 2016 "Instalarity" Q Art Salon, Los Angeles, CA

  • 2016 "On The Periphery, 3 Person Show", Abend Gallery, Denver, CO

  • 2016 "Pop-Up: _Lo_01_La_2016", Abend Gallery and _LO Collective, Los Angeles, CA

  • 2016 "Contemporary Figuration", Abend Gallery, Denver, CO

  • 2016 "Nexus", Abend Gallery, Denver, CO

  • 2016 "Animalia", Abend Gallery, Denver, CO

  • 2015 "25th Annual Holiday Miniatures Show", Abend Gallery, Denver, CO

  • 2015 "TRAC2015 Invitational Art Exhibition", TRAC Conference 2015, Thousand Oaks, CA

  • 2015 "Urban Life" Abend Gallery, Denver, CO

  • 2015 "BP Portrait Award Exhibition" The National Gallery, London, UK

  • 2015 "Unfurl" Gallery 1261, Denver, CO

  • 2015 "Figurative Group Show", Abend Gallery, Denver, CO

  • 2014 "Urban Aspect", Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA

  • 2014 "Pay it Forward", Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA

  • 2014 "Women Painting Women", Principle Gallery, Charleston, SC

  • 2014 "These are a Few of My Favorite Things" Principle Gallery, Charleston, SC

  • 2014 Exhibiting Artist at The Plein Air Convention and Expo, Monterey, CA

  • 2014 Exhibiting Artist at The Representational Art Conference, Ventura, CA

  • 2013 "(R)evolution: Women Painting Women", Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA

  • 2013 "Women Painting Women International Juried Exhibition", Townsend Atelier, Chattanooga, TN

  • 2013 "The Man Show", Kwan Fong Gallery, California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, CA.

  • 2013 "Still, Life and Land", Maxwell Alexander Gallery, Culver City, CA

  • 2012 "One Hundred Dollars", Littlefield, New York, NY

  • 2012 "Waterfront", Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA

  • 2012 "City Streets", Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA

  • 2012 "Delicious", Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA

  • 2012 "Flock", Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA

  • 2011 "Art Between The Lines", Hennessy + Ingalls in association with The California Art Club, Santa Monica, CA

  • 2011 "Tiny", Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA

  • 2011 "National Juried Exhibition, All Media 2011", Chico Art Center, Chico, CA

  • 2011 "Fresh Air: Landscapes of California", in association with The California Art Club, Fremont Gallery, Pasadena, CA

  • 2011 "Contemporary Painters, Bay Area Exhibition", Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA

  • 2011 "Faculty Exhibition", Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA

  • 2011 "The Guerrilla Show", Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA

  • 2010 "Doll House", Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA

  • 2010 "Coastal Art League and Museum Annual Juried Show", Half Moon Bay, CA

  • 2011 "Golden State of Mind", The Milton Marks Gallery, San Francisco, CA

  • 2010 "New Works", Costal Art League, Half Moon Bay, CA

  • 2010 "Daydreams and Nightmares", Gallery 25, San Mateo, CA

  • 2010 "Transitions", Community Gallery, Redwood City, CA

  • 2010 "Statewide Drawing and Print Competition", The Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA

Publications, Press, & Podcasts

Residency

  • 2017 Artist in Residence, Redbull House of Art, Detroit, MI

  • 2013 Artist in Residence, de Young Museum of Fine Art, San Francisco, CA

Teaching & Demonstration

  • Painting classes/workshops in the San Francisco Bay Area 2025-Present

  • Private online Creative Coaching 2020-Present

  • Online group Creative Coaching 2023-Present

  • Private, online, technical painting instruction 2016-2020

  • National and International Painting Workshops 2015-2023

  • Private painting instruction in studio, 2007-Present

  • Sadie Valeri Atelier, Instruction in Drawing and Painting, weekly classes 2012-2015 and workshops 2012-2018

  • Faculty, Plein Air Convention and Expo, Monterey, CA 2014

  • Teaching residency at The de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA, December 2013

  • Painting demonstration at The Legion of Honor Museum for the opening day celebration of the Anders Zorn Exhibition, San Francisco, CA, November 2013

  • Sharon Art Studio, San Francisco, CA, Drawing Workshops, 2013

  • Menlo Art League, Portrait Painting Demonstration and Lecture, 2013

  • The Disney Family Museum, "You Are What You Paint" Workshop, 2012

  • The Disney Family Museum, "Introduction to Portraiture" Workshop, 2012

  • The Disney Family Museum, Guest Artist, Portrait Drawing Demo, 2012

  • The Disney Family Museum, Portrait Drawing Instructor, 2011

  • The Disney Family Museum, Guest Instructor, Animal Sketching Workshop, 2011

  • The San Jose Museum of Art, Figure Drawing Workshop in conjunction with Robert Mapplethorpe photography exhibit, 2011

  • The Pacific Art League, Portrait Drawing Workshop, 2011

Awards

  • 2018 Second Prize, BP Portrait Award

  • 2017 Grant and residency recipient, Redbull House of Art, Detroit, MI

  • 2007 Jean Gates Trust Award, The Art Students League, New York, New York