Forrest Bess (1911-1977) was a painter known for his biomorphic, dreamlike work derived from personal visions. His work is small in scale and contains consistent symbolic language. Each painting explores the visions he experienced through color and texture.

Born in Texas, Forrest Bess took lessons in oil painting from a neighbor, experiencing visions for which he would later use as inspiration. Travels to Mexico exposed Bess to the work of muralists like Diego Rivera. Working as a commercial fisherman, he painted in his spare time with a growing interest in anatomy, immortality, and mythology.