Making a Mark

Artists for Humanity’s (AFH) first Open Studio of 2025 features AFH Alum, Aristotle Forrester . His work depicts and bends reality through deliberate and decisive mark-making. When you stand in front of his paintings, you’re pulled into a world full of texture and color. The way light bounces off of his abstract shapes and energetic brushstrokes, it’s easy to imagine Aristotle spending hours, days, months, and years painting, scraping, and almost sculpting these pieces from his mind.

At a young age, Aristotle knew he wanted to be a “Renaissance Man.” However, as a young Black teen, he found the lack of representation discouraging. His perspective began to shift when he joined Artists for Humanity in 2010. Surrounded by examples of successful Black men making fine art, he saw art as a viable profession for the first time. Aristotle has always been hungry for knowledge, but working at AFH solidified his love for understanding the process behind art and mark-making.?

In recent years, Aristotle has shifted from exploring spiritual landscape painting to examining the relationship between internal narrative and abstraction. Previously, he focused on abstraction through map-making and world-building. Now, his work delves deeper into using abstraction to depict his reality, demonstrating how an abstract landscape can convey his internal narrative.

Aristotle aims to bring attention to a history of white European abstract painters taking inspiration from Aboriginal cave paintings, sand art, and utilizing Indigenous and African tools and traditions as a jumping off point towards creating abstract works. As he continues his exploration of abstraction, he leans into what it means to be a Black man making art outside of the framework of white European culture. He leans into the concept of decolonizing and reclaiming practices, referencing Afro-Caribbean philosophers Frantz Fanon and Edouard Dessant as guiding voices within his ever evolving practice.

“I can't paint in a Western way because each mark actually means something visceral for me,” Aristotle emphasizes.

Not only is each mark a deeply felt action, but every brushstroke is grounded in its transformation—from material to pigment, to paint, to palette. Aristotle understands the inherent history in each piece, carefully choosing colors for every new painting.

“I don't want people to look at my work and think, ‘You must have slapped that together,’” Aristotle says passionately. “No, it’s 10 years of making decisions.”

Aristotle respects the tradition of grinding pigment and creating paint, noting that he makes colors you can’t buy in stores. He has also incorporated the spiritual practice of making paints from offerings and natural materials, including his own hair.

“I think it’s important to think about the materials we use as artists and the sustainability of them,” he explains.

With his dedication to maintaining traditional artistic practices, it’s no surprise that Aristotle sees himself reentering the educational sphere within the next five to ten years as a torchbearer for his community. Whether that means teaching or community work, Aristotle will be around to serve as the embodiment of a Renaissance Man.

“Not everyone can have an office job,” Aristotle emphasizes. “Some people have thoughts that need to get out of their body, and I always want to be an example of what happens when you don’t give up and let those thoughts flow.”

Aristotle shares this advice with AFH teen artists: “Being an artist is something inside all of us. Everyone can play jazz, everyone can pick up a pencil, everyone can pick up a paintbrush. But not everyone can like themselves when they're doing it. Only you will get in your own way,” Aristotle shares. “No one is going to think your image is bad unless you think it’s bad.”

Feeling inspired to pick up a paintbrush? Dive deeper into Aristotle’s world by viewing his work in person at Artists for Humanity’s first Open Studio of 2025 on January 28th from 5 to 7 PM at the AFH EpiCenter at 100 W 2nd St in South Boston. We hope to see you there!

You can follow Aristotle and his creative journey on Instagram @aristotles_abstractions_ and on his website.

For private viewings of the exhibition, contact [email protected].