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MICHAEL FORBES

Michael Forbes is an almost entirely self-taught Pop Surrealist artist, who lives in an isolated area in the north of the Scottish Highlands.

He worked as an assistant to Pop artist Gerald Laing in his youth, from whom he “learned more from…than any art school education could provide.’’

Michael’s paintings are an extraordinary visual record of his thoughts and dreams, often journeying into the subconscious. His work shows a magical and playful, dream-like world laced with humour and pop-culture.

Michael can count a number of celebrities as fans of his work, including Madonna, Ricky Gervais and Terry Gilliam who are both collectors. Michael was selected to paint the Millennium poster for the London Underground, which is on show at the Museum of London Transport. He was also selected to represent the future of animal painting in the 2007 Blue Cross exhibition ''Animals in Art'' opened by the Queen. This show allowed Forbes to exhibit with every major British artist from Gainsborough to Hockney at Sotheby's. He has shown along side all the major Pop artists, including Warhol, Lichtenstein and Indiana at the Opera Gallery exhibition ''In the Mood for Pop'' on New Bond Street London. Michael was the first artist to have a private exhibition of his work at The Club at the Ivy in London, taking over the entire top floor, in an exhibition curated and organised by Terry Gilliam’s daughter Holly. His work is currently on show in New York at Pop Gallery in Manhattan, where he regularly exhibits with artists better known for their music, such as Ringo Starr, Ronnie Wood and most recently Bob Dylan. 

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