Forrest Bess

The publication "Forrest Bess" offers an in-depth insight into the life and work of one of the most extraordinary artists of post-war American art. Forrest Bess, a self-taught painter and fisherman, lived in Texas from the 1940s onward and created a series of small-scale, biomorphic abstractions that reflect his visionary experiences between wakefulness and sleep. His art is characterized by an intense engagement with themes such as mythology, psychology, and sexology. Bess believed that by uniting the masculine and the feminine, one could achieve immortality, which led him to undergo medical procedures. Although his works received little recognition during his lifetime, they gained international acclaim posthumously and influenced numerous contemporary artists. This publication, edited by Moritz Wesseler, includes contributions from renowned authors such as Tomma Abts and Dieter Schwarz and is a valuable resource for anyone interested in art and its societal relevance.