The Rochester Museum of Fine Arts is pleased to present Painting from Within, an exhibition of works by Forrest Elliott, on view at Back Hill Beer Co. in the historic Gonic Mill (73 Pickering Road, Gonic, NH) beginning Saturday, September 6, 2025.
Forrest Elliott is a contemporary painter whose work explores the dynamic relationships between colors and their translation through the act of seeing onto a two-dimensional surface. Guided by intuition and a deep connection to color, his paintings emerge through an intuitive process that invites presence, trust, and creative flow.
“Painting, for me, is both a visual and energetic practice — an exploration of color, light, and movement that extends beyond the boundaries of place or identity,” says Elliott. “My work is rooted in the belief that art can shift perception, open awareness, and connect us more deeply to ourselves.”
Elliott describes his process as one where “observation, memory, and intuition coalesce.” Guided in part by his Reiki practice, he approaches “the canvas as a space for transformation, where the electricity of a color, the softness of an edge, or the sudden sweep of a palette knife becomes a conversation between artist, medium, and viewer.”
“My goal is not to provide answers,” Elliott explains, “but to create openings — spaces where color and form act as conduits for personal connection, memory, and emotional resonance.”
He holds a B.F.A. from the University of New Hampshire with a minor in History, and his work has been featured in Clover + Bee, DesignSponge, and Studio Visit, among others. In addition to painting, Forrest offers Reiki Healing & Intuitive Painting Sessions, Retreats, and Workshops, merging energy work with creativity to help individuals reconnect with their inner voice and release creative blocks. He is co-curator at Blue Door Gallery in York, Maine, and works as a creative consultant and interior designer, bringing a refined sense of color, composition, and atmosphere to both art and interiors.
Forrest is represented by Blue Door Gallery, Kennedy Gallery, and Nahcotta, with his work in private collections across the U.S. and internationally. He works full-time from his home studio in York, Maine.
Visit www.forrestelliott.com or contact [email protected] for more information. Follow Forrest on Instagram at @forrestkelliott and @theintuitivepainter.
