About the Artist

Biography

Frank Forrestall is a Canadian painter based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, whose work explores the territory of mythic realism. Drawing inspiration from mythology, folklore, mysticism, and the symbolic traditions of art history, he creates images that inhabit the threshold between the familiar and the archetypal. Through intricate figurative compositions, Forrestall investigates the enduring patterns that shape human experience, giving visual form to dreams, collective memory, and the unseen dimensions of the imagination.

After two decades working in television and the creative industries, Forrestall turned his focus fully toward studio painting in 2016. Initially conceived as a meditative and cathartic practice, his paintings have resonated with audiences who discover personal meanings within their layered symbolism and enigmatic narratives. A lifelong artist and the youngest member of the renowned Tom Forrestall artist family, Frank has developed a distinctive visual language that combines technical craftsmanship with mythic storytelling, earning a growing reputation among collectors and admirers of contemporary visionary art.

Artist Statement

Forrestall’s work navigates the terrain of mythology, the subconscious, folklore, and modern iconography, creating layered visual worlds that serve as mythic corridors into both private and collective narratives. Within his practice lies a deep fascination with the persistence of myth, and its power to transcend eras and cultures by carrying forward truths that remain relevant across generations.

Through automatism and automatic drawing, he allows archetypal forms to rise unbidden from his subconscious. His process is one of transformation; initial sketches, impressions, and lived experiences evolve into refined visual statements. Through this merging of instinct and intention, Forrestall produces compositions that are both deeply considered and vibrantly alive. This process transforms private visions into shared narratives, creating a symbolic space where individual and collective experience converge.

Each piece invites viewers towards introspection and emotional connection, functioning as both a personal catharsis and a collective mirror that reflects shared struggles and inner   landscapes. His paintings move beyond mere representation, becoming gateways to imagined realms and reminders of the enduring relevance of mythic storytelling. In traversing these visual worlds, the viewer does not simply witness a story, they become a part of it, carrying the symbols into their own dreams and waking life.

SOLO SHOWS

Relics of Neverville, The Craig Gallery, Dartmouth, NS	August 2027
Featured artist, Tantallon Public Library, Upper Tantallon, NS	October 2027
Wandering Through the Unknown, The Fraser Gallery, Tatamagouche, NS	July 2026
Peggy’s Cove Area Art Society, Studio Tour, Upper Tantallon, NS	July 2026
Relics of Neverville, ArtCan Gallery, Canning, NS	June 2026
Featured artist, Trident Café, Halifax, NS	May – June 2026
Totems and Tricksters, Secord Gallery, Halifax, NS	April 2026
Pilgrimage Through Uncertain Worlds, ArtSplace Gallery, Annapolis Royal, NS	April 2026
Featured artist, Pink Piano Café, Lower Sackville, NS	April – June 2026
Road to Neverville, The Craig Gallery, Dartmouth NS	August 2023
Road to Neverville, The Fraser Gallery, Tatamagouche, NS	July 2023
Sacred Motes, Kit Cafe & Gallery, Halifax NS	March 2020
Neverworlds, The Craig Gallery, Dartmouth NS	March 2019
Knickknacks & Psychopomps, The D'Art Gallery, Dartmouth NS	February 2019
Dark Gnosis, Plan-B Gallery, Halifax NS	January 2018

GROUP SHOWS

Peggy’s Cove Area Art Society Group Show, Prow Gallery, Halifax, NS	May 2026
Wandering through Trees, Pope Foundation exhibition, NS	Sept 2025
Critical Care, The Ice House Gallery, Tatamagouche, NS	Sept 2023
Surreal Salon 14, Baton Rouge Gallery, Baton Rouge LA	Jan 2022
Invisible Visibility, virtual show, artsteps.com	May 2021
DAMNED: Exhibition of Enlightened Darkness, Tangent Gallery, Detroit MI	Oct 2019
Dream Selfies, Chase Gallery, Halifax NS	June 2018
Art For the Planet, Fred Gallery, Halifax NS	Feb 2010

AWARDS

American Art Awards, Art Brut 3rd Place for "Chimerical Beast" and 4th Place for "Stylite's Dream"; Los Angeles, CA

October 2020

PUBLICATIONS

The Long Con art and literary journal, Vol. 2, Gilgamesh Under the Sea (cover image), Nebuchadnezzar	July 2025
Rawhead art and literary journal, Vol. 2, Ship of Lost Souls, Final Thoughts, The Elder Three, Sons of Man	April 2026

COMMISSIONS

Mr. Veggie Pig painting commissioned by Real Fake Meat; Halifax NS	August 2023
Cosmic Vortex 2 mural commissioned by High Grade Smoke Shop; Dartmouth NS	August 2022
Cosmic Vortex 1 mural commissioned by High Grade Smoke Shop; Millbrook NS	October 2021
The Exquisite Beast mural commissioned by Copernicus Animation Studio; Halifax NS	June 2018