August 2021: The following sixteen Bess paintings were recently found in a storage shed in Bay City, Texas.

The following is not intended to be a complete or accurate compilation of Forrest Bess's work. Many thanks to original sources and collections cited, and to Texas A&M University for much of the organizational work on this resource. Click on each thumbnail to view a larger version.


Title: Untitled from Mexican series
Date: c. 1930
Size: 5" x 7"
Medium: Block print


Title: Night in Taxco, GTO from Mexican series
Date: c. 1930
Size: 5" x 7"
Medium: Block print


Title: Sweet Potatoes
Date: 1934
Size: 14" x 16"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Private


Title: Paint Table
Date: 1935
Size: 12" x 13.5"
Medium: Oil on board


Title: Bread and Potatoes
Date: c. 1938
Size: 16" x 18"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Houston Museum of Fine Arts
Image Source: The Dictionary of Texas Artists, 1800-1945, Michael and Paula Grauer


Title: Market-Taxco
Date: 1938
Size: 7.8" x 5.9"
Medium: Print
Collection: The Menil Collection, gift of P.J. Allen


Title: Mexican Boy
Date: 1938


Title: The Crucifixion
Date: 1944
Medium: Unknown (black and white photo from color)


Title: The Asteroids 1
Date: 1946
Size: 8" x 10"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: The Phillips Collection


Title: The Asteroids 2
Date: 1946
Size: 8" x 10"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: The Phillips Collection


Title: The Asteroids 3
Date: 1946
Size: 8" x 10"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: The Phillips Collection


Title: The Asteroids 4
Date: 1946
Size: 10" x 8"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: The Phillips Collection


Title: Dedication to Van Gogh
Date: 1946
Size: 15.6" x 17.7"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago
Image Source: Forrest Bess, exhibition catalog, Hirschel & Adler Modern, New York


Title: The Dicks
Date: 1946
Size: 14" x 16"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art at Utah State University


Title: Family Group
Date: 1946


Title: I Can See Through Myself
Date: 1946
Size: 22" x 23"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Rudolph and Florence Kindel


Title: Mind Crystal
Date: 1946
Size: 24.5" x 28.75"


Title: Oil Field
Date: 1946
Size: 15.5" x 18.5"
Medium: Oil on canvas


Title: Untitled (The Paint Man)
Date: 1946
Size: 28.1" x 22"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: The Menil Collection, Houston, gift of P.J. Allen


Title: Unknown
Date: 1946
Size: 14" x 16"
Medium: Oil on canvas


Title: Untitled (Indian Dancers)
Date: c. 1946
Size: 22" x 24"
Collection: Harry Burkhart Collection


Title: Premonition
Date: 1947
Size: 14" x 16"
Medium: Oil on canvas (black and white photo from color)
Collection: Rosalie Berkowitz
Image Source: Forrest Bess, exhibition catalog, Hirschel & Adler Modern, New York


Title: Seascape with Moon
Date: 1947
Size: 8.5" x 14"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Gift of Mary and Earle Ludgin Collection
Image Source: Nathan Keay, MCA Chicago


Title: Seascape with Sun
Date: c. 1947
Size: 14" x 16"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: The Texas Landscape, 1900-1986, exhibition catalog, Houston Museum of Fine Arts


Title: The Warrior
Date: 1947
Size: 9.75" x 7.9"


Title: Untitled (The Crowded Mind/The Void)
Date: 1947
Size: 10" x 11-3/4"
Medium: Oil on canvas


Title: Untitled
Date: 1947
Size: 4.5" x 2.8"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: The Menil Collection, Houston, gift of the artist


Title: Untitled, No. 21
Date: 1947
Size: 4.5" x 5"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: Forrest Bess, exhibition catalog, Hirschel & Adler Modern, New York


Title: Landscape with Sun
Date: 1948
Size: 14" x 16.1"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Gift of Mary and Earle Ludgin Collection
Image Source: Nathan Keay, MCA Chicago


Title: Still Life: Eggplants, Squash
Date: 1948
Size: 18" x 20"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: Sotheby's, New York


Title: Untitled
Date: 1948
Size: 10" x 12"
Medium: Oil on masonite
Image Source: Forrest Bess, exhibition catalog, Hirschel & Adler Modern, New York


Title: Bodies of Little Dead Children
Date: 1949
Size: 5.7" x 7.5"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: The Menil Collection, Houston


Title: The Prophesy (Sputnik)
Date: 1949
Size: 6" x 7.5"
Medium: Oil on canvas mounted to wood panel
Collection: The Phillips Collection


Title: No. 40
Date: 1949
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Betty Parsons Gallery, New York


Title: Untitled
Date: 1949
Size: 8" x 12"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Janice & M. Cartin


Title: Untitled
Date: 1949
Medium: Unknown (black and white photo from color)


Title: Oval (The Crown)
Date: 1949
Size: 8" x 10"
Collection: Whitney Museum of American Art


Title: You Can't Have Me
Date: 1949
Size: 5.5" x 7.5"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: The Phillips Collection


Title: Untitled (Indian Summer)
Date: 1949
Size: 7.7" x 9.7"
Medium: Oil on canvas


Title: Brown Grass
Date: c. 1950
Size: 7" x 8"
Medium: Oil on canvas

Title: Hieroglyphics
Date: c. 1950
Size: 6" x 7.4"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago


Title: Seascape with Moon
Date: 1950
Size: 8.5" x 14"
Medium: Oil on canvas (black and white photo from color)
Image Source: The Texas Landscape, 1900-1986, exhibition catalog, Houston Museum of Fine Arts


Title: Sticks
Date: c. 1950
Size: 6.5" x 7.6"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: The Menil Collection, Houston


Title: Untitled
Date: 1950
Size: 9" x 12"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Private


Title: Untitled
Date: 1950


Title: Untitled #11
Date: 1950
Size: 11" x 9.75"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Janice & M. Cartin


Title: Untitled #13
Date: 1950
Size: 6" x 10"
Medium: Oil on canvas


Title: Untitled #39
Date: 1950
Size: 7.75" x 9.75"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Janice & M. Cartin


Title: Untitled #42
Date: 1950
Size: 9" x 12"
Medium: Oil on canvas


Title: Untitled #44
Date: 1950
Size: 11" x 11"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: The Phillips Collection


Title: Untitled (Blue and Black Figures)
Date: 1950
Size: 22" x 25.1"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Private


Title: Unknown
Date: c. 1950
Size: 7" x 9"
Medium: Pastel with watercolor
Image Source: Crieger-Dane Gallery, Boston


Title: #1
Date: 1951
Size: 8.75" x 8.75"
Medium: Oil on panel


Title: Homage to Ryder
Date: 1951
Size: 9.75" x 13.75"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago
Image Source: Forrest Bess, exhibition catalog, Hirschel & Adler Modern, New York


Title: Symbol of Flowers
Date: 1951
Size: 9" x 12"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: Brazos Projects Exhibit Space, Houston


Title: Untitled
Date: 1951
Size: 9" x 11.75"
Medium: Gouache on paper in two parts (shown open and closed)


Title: Untitled, No. 5
Date: 1951
Size: 8" x 10"
Medium: Oil on canvas (black and white photo from color)
Collection: Mrs. Robert M. Benjamin
Image Source: Forrest Bess, exhibition catalog, Hirschel & Adler Modern, New York


Title: Untitled, No. 31
Date: 1951
Size: 8" x 10"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Betty Parsons Gallery, New York
Image Source: Forrest Bess, exhibition catalog, Hirschel & Adler Modern, New York


Title: View of Maya
Date: 1951
Size: 8" x 8"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: The Menil Collection, Houston, bequest of Jermayne MacAgy


Title: Wheatfield
Date: c. 1951
Size: 11.6" x 13.5"
Medium: Oil on canvas (black and white photo from color)
Collection: Mary and Earle Ludgin
Image Source: Forrest Bess, exhibition catalog, Hirschel & Adler Modern, New York


Title: Untitled (The Void II)
Date: 1951
Size: 9.75" x 16.75"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: Coll. Kunstmuseum Winterthur, Switzerland, purchase 2014


Title: Untitled
Date: 1951
Size: 9" x 12"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: The Menil Collection, Houston, gift of P.J. Allen


Title: The Bridge
Date: 1952
Size: 10" x 11"
Medium: Oil with silver leaf on hardboard
Collection: The Phillips Collection


Title: Untitled, No. 14
Date: 1952
Size: 9" x 10"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Betty Parsons Gallery, New York


Title: Untitled, No. 18
Date: 1952
Size: 7.5" x 10.5"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: Forrest Bess, exhibition catalog, Hirschel & Adler Modern, New York


Title: Untitled
Date: 1952
Collection: Harry Burkhart Collection


Title: Untitled
Date: 1952


Title: Before Man
Date: 1952-1953
Size: 8-3/4" x 22-3/4"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: Collection Neuberger Museum of Art, Purchase College. State University of New York, Gift of Roy R. Neuberger


Title: And all the things I have forgotten
Date: 1953
Size: 20" x 24"


Title: Burning Bush
Date: 1953
Size: 8" x 10"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: Forrest Bess, exhibition catalog, Hirschel & Adler Modern, New York


Title: The Greek
Date: 1953
Size: 14" x 14"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Private


Title: Tree of Life
Date: 1953
Size: 16" x 13"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Private


Title: Bomb
Date: 1954
Size: 8" x 10"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: Forrest Bess, exhibition catalog, Hirschel & Adler Modern, New York


Title: It Fits
Date: 1955
Size: 6" x 8.5"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: Forrest Bess, exhibition catalog, Hirschel & Adler Modern, New York


Title: Mandala
Date: 1955
Size: 11.75" x 11.75"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: Forrest Bess, exhibition catalog, Hirschel & Adler Modern, New York


Title: Drawings
Date: 1957
Size: 8" x 28"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Whitney Museum, New York


Title: The Hermaphrodite
Date: 1957
Size: 8" x 11"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: The Menil Collection, Houston, gift of John Wilcox, in memory of Frank Owen Wilson


Title: Tab Tied to the Moon Film
Date: 1957
Size: 7.1" x 8"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Herbert and Paula Molne


Title: Untitled
Date: 1957
Size: 9" x 12"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Private


Title: Untitled
Date: 1957
Size: 14.7" x 19"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: Christie's, New York


Title: Untitled
Date: 1957
Size: 27.75" x 7"


Title: Untitled
Date: 1957
Size: 8" x 12"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: Forrest Bess, exhibition catalog, Hirschel & Adler Modern, New York


Title: Untitled
Date: 1957
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: Museum of Modern Art, NY, licensed by SCALA/Art Resource, NY


Title: Untitled
Date: 1957


Title: Untitled, No. 5
Date: 1957
Size: 12" x 12.2"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Betty Parsons Gallery, New York
Image Source: Sotheby's, New York


Title: Untitled, No. 6
Date: 1957
Size: 10" x 10"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: Sotheby's, New York


Title: Untitled, No. 12a
Date: 1957
Size: 12" x 18"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: Collection of Andrew Masullo


Title: Untitled, No. 11a
Date: 1958
Size: 18" x 24"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Houston Museum of Art


Title: #7
Date: 1959
Size: 20" x 20.1"


Title: Carmichael's
Date: 1959
Size: 16" x 28"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Private


Title: Night Flight
Date: 1959
Size: 7.9" x 10"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: Forrest Bess, exhibition catalog, Hirschel & Adler Modern, New York


Title: No. 6
Date: 1959
Size: 17" x 26"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Private


Title: Star of David
Date: 1959
Size: 24" x 10.1"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University
Image Source: Forrest Bess, exhibition catalog, Hirschel & Adler Modern, New York


Title: The Three Doors
Date: 1959
Size: 19.5" x 44.25"
Medium: Paint on wood relief
Image Source: Forrest Bess, exhibition catalog, Hirschel & Adler Modern, New York


Title: Untitled
Date: 1959
Size: 16" x 24"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: Forrest Bess, exhibition catalog, Hirschel & Adler Modern, New York


Title: Untitled
Date: 1960s
Size: 12" x 16"
Medium: Oil on canvas

Title: The Noble Carbunkle
Date: 1960
Size: 30" x 50"
Medium: Oil on masonite
Collection: Pauline Huebner


Title: Untitled
Date: 1964
Size: 25" x 31.5"
Medium: Oil on glass, wood frame
Collection: San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Eleanor Rogers Onderdonk

Title: Variations in Time
Date: 1964
Size: 12" x 14"
Medium: Oil on canvas


Title: Thunderbird
Date: 1965
Size: 26" x 36"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: The Menil Collection, Houston


Title: Two Thoughts
Date: 1965
Size: 5" x 7"
Medium: Oil on linen


Title: Eye of God
Date: 1966
Size: 14.25" x 16"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: Forrest Bess, exhibition catalog, Hirschel & Adler Modern, New York


Title: Golden Mountain
Date: 1966
Size: 10" x 14"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: Sotheby's, New York


Title: Untitled
Date: 1966
Size: 9" x 12"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: Forrest Bess, exhibition catalog, Hirschel & Adler Modern, New York


Title: Energy Red
Date: 1967
Collection: Harry Burkhart Collection


Title: The Island
Date: 1967
Size: 12" x 16"
Image Source: Christie's, New York


Title: Old Boats
Date: 1967
Size: 10" x 4"
Medium: Oil on canvas (black and white photo from color)
Image Source: Forrest Bess, exhibition catalog, Hirschel & Adler Modern, New York


Title: Spots
Date: 1967
Collection: Harry Burkhart Collection


Title: The Penetrator
Date: 1967
Size: 18" x 24"
Medium: Oil on canvas


Title: Untitled
Date: 1967
Size: 12" x 12"
Medium: Oil on canvas


Title: Evening at Chinquapin
Date: 1969
Size: 14" x 20"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Private


Title: Complete Freedom
Date: 1970
Size: 11" x 19"
Medium: Oil on canvas


Title: Here Is a Sign
Date: 1970
Size: 17.5" x 13.5"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: Forrest Bess, exhibition catalog, Hirschel & Adler Modern, New York


Title: The Spider
Date: 1970
Size: 12" x 14"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: Collection of Christian Zacharias


Title: Untitled
Date: 1970
Size: 16" x 16"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: Forrest Bess, exhibition catalog, Hirschel & Adler Modern, New York


Title: Untitled
Date: 1970
Size: 14" x 14"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: Forrest Bess, exhibition catalog, Hirschel & Adler Modern, New York


Title: Church
Date: Unknown
Size: 5" x 4"
Medium: Crayon on paper
Collection: Private


Title: Holy Crown
Date: Unknown
Size: 9.25" x 12"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Charna Stone Cowan Collection


Title: Masonic Hall
Date: Unknown
Size: 5" x 4"
Medium: Crayon on paper
Collection: Private


Title: Matilda
Date: Unknown
Size: 14" x 16"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: Christie's, New York


Title: Rain of Color 3
Date: Unknown
Size: 14" x 16"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Private


Title: Seascape with Star
Date: Unknown
Medium: Oil


Title: The Saints
Date: Unknown
Size: 6" x 10"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Marguerite Lewis Fuerse


Title: View from the Boat
Date: Unknown
Size: 20" x 16"
Medium: Oil on panel
Image source: David Dike Fine Art, Dallas


Title: Untitled
Date: Unknown


Title: Pink Moon
Date: Unknown
Collection: Harry Burkhart Collection


Title: Untitled
Date: Unknown
Size: 14" x 12"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: Christie's, New York


Title: Untitled
Date: Unknown
Size: 6" x 8"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Gift of Mary and Earle Ludgin Collection
Image Source: Nathan Keay, MCA Chicago


Title: Untitled
Date: Unknown
Size: 3.3" x 15.8" x .3"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Gift of Mary and Earle Ludgin Collection
Image Source: Nathan Keay, MCA Chicago


Title: Untitled, No. 16
Date: Unknown
Size: 11" x 12.2"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Image Source: Christie's, New York


Title: Unknown
Date: Unknown
Medium: Unknown (black and white photo from color)
Image Source: Forrest Bess, exhibition catalog, Hirschel & Adler Modern, New York


Title: Unknown
Date: Unknown
Medium: Unknown (black and white photo from color)


Title: Unknown
Date: Unknown


Title: Unknown
Date: Unknown


Title: Unknown
Date: Unknown


Title: Unknown
Date: Unknown


Title: Unknown
Date: Unknown


Title: Unknown
Date: Unknown


Title: Unknown
Date: Unknown


Title: Unknown
Date: Unknown

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