Part of the vibrant next generation of Saskatchewan's abstract painters, Jonathan Forrest's boldly coloured acrylic paintings playfully reference post-war abstract painting. But instead of introspectively exploring the canvas, Forrest's layered works lift from the surface, tactfully invading the viewers' space.

Roald Nasgaard in Abstract Painting in Canada writes of Forrest, "He is the youngest and perhaps the last direct descendant of the tradition that began with Greenberg, passed down to him through Perehudoff and Christie, the tradition that so long retained its faith in painting qua painting independent of external
references."

Forrest indicates that a large part of his exploration as an artist is his love for layering colours atop colours, to create various plains which he carefully delineates by taping off certain areas as he paints. The artist says this allows him to create different illusionary spaces that can be played off one another.

Born in 1962, Edinburgh, Scotland, Jonathan Forrest received both his Bachelors and Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Saskatchewan. He also attended the Emma Lake Artist's Workshop and became an organizer in 2001. His work had been widely exhibited within Canada and can be found in many public collections including: the Canada Council's Art Bank, University of Saskatchewan and the Art Gallery of Alberta.