FORREST BESS | Seeing Things Invisible

This volume delves into the enigmatic world of the visionary artist Forrest Bess, whose profound exploration of the subconscious and the metaphysical continues to captivate.  Discover the hidden depths of Bess's mind as he grapples with themes of identity, mythology, and the very essence of existence. From his iconic paintings to his cryptic writings, each aspect of Bess's oeuvre is illuminated, inviting you to unravel the mysteries that lie beneath the surface.  Whether you're an art aficionado drawn to the complexities of the human psyche or a seeker of truth in the esoteric, "Forrest Bess: Seeing Things Invisible" promises to be a portal to a realm where the invisible becomes palpable, and the ineffable finds form.

Published in conjunction with the exhibition of the same name at The Menil Collection. 
53 color plates of works from the exhibit.
Essays by Robert Gober and Clare Elliot.
Includes pictorial glossary to Bess's primordial symbolism.

Cover has minor rubbing, lightly bumped corners, and moderate corner wear. No dust jacket as issued. Pages are clean and crisp with minor toning to some edges. Very good or good ++ condition.

"The eccentric visionary artist Forrest Bess (1911–1977) spent most of his life on the Texas coast working as a commercial fisherman. In his spare time, however, he painted prolifically, creating an extraordinary body of work rich with enigmatic symbolism. Bess experienced hallucinations that both frightened and intrigued him, and he incorporated images from these visions into small-scale abstract paintings starting in the mid-1940s. His canvases attracted an underground following, and between 1949 and 1967, Betty Parsons organized six solo exhibitions of Bess’s work at her prominent New York City gallery. Since then, the art world has periodically rediscovered his work, most recently through a 2012 Whitney Biennial installation by American sculptor Robert Gober, which further exposed Bess’s psychological, medical, and religious theories. Forrest Bess: Seeing Things Invisible is the artist’s first museum retrospective with catalogue in the United States and offers a fresh look at Bess’s work and a better understanding of this curious and complicated artist." - from the publisher

9.75 x 10.75 inches