Jessica holds a MFA in Fine Art from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, a MA in Art and Design from University of Northern Colorado and a BA in Art from Colorado State University. Jessica has been an artist-in-residence at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, CO, at Platteforum and the Children’s Museum of Denver and the Firehouse Art Center in Longmont, Colorado. She was also awarded an opportunity to display her work publicly by a Brooklyn-based non-profit called SaveArtSpace. She has participated in group and solo shows in Brooklyn, New York and in the Denver area.
Education
MFA in Fine Arts, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
MA in Art and Design, UNC, Greeley, CO
BA in Art, Colorado State University, CO
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2019 PlatteForum, Denver, Colorado
2019 University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado
2018 ReCreative, Denver, Colorado
2018 Pirate Contemporary Art, Denver, Colorado
2017 Firehouse Art Center, Longmont, Colorado
2016 Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York
2014 University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado
2013 Anthology Fine Art Gallery, Denver, Colorado
2012 Brush and Comb, Denver, Colorado
2011 Anthology Fine Art Gallery, Denver, Colorado
2011 Green Spaces, Denver, Colorado
Selected Group Exhibitions
2018 In Sight On Site, Arvada Center, Arvada, Colorado
Rethinking Urbanism, Redline, Denver, Colorado
39th Pirate Members Show, Lakewood, Colorado
2017 By Any Means Necessary, Redline, Denver, Colorado
2016 Babylone - USA, Boiler Room, Brooklyn, New York
A Show We Co-Curate Myself, Brooklyn, New York
2015 Give Me Some Space, Steuben Gallery, Brooklyn, New York
All at Once, Steuben Gallery, Brooklyn, New York
2014 Salonumenta, DeKalb Gallery, Brooklyn, New York
9th Semi-Annual Juried Exhibition, Boxcar Gallery, Denver, Colorado
University of Northern Colorado Visual Arts Gala Exhibition, Greeley, Colorado
2013 Artist Showcase, Firehouse Art Center, Longmont, Colorado
2012 CAEA Juried Exhibition, Event Gallery 910 Arts, Denver, Colorado
The Mask Project: A Benefit for the Denver Hospice, Denver, Colorado
2010 The Colorado Art Education Association Juried Exhibition, Alamosa, Colorado
The Wow Show, Core New Art Gallery, Denver, Colorado
Wabi Sabi: The Art of Imperfection, SYNC Gallery, Denver, Colorado
Autumn ARTfest, Armory, Brighton, Colorado
Artist Residency
2019 PlatteForum, Denver, Colorado
2019 University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado
2018 Children's Museum of Denver, Denver, Colorado
2017 Firehouse Art Center, Longmont, Colorado
Collaborations
2018 [Colony 933], Denver, Colorado
Public Art
2018 Children's Museum of Denver, Denver, Colorado
2017 Save Art Space, Golden, Colorado
Artist Presentations and Visitations
2019 Drawing and Installation Workshop, University of Northern, Colorado, Greeley, Colorado
Artist Talk, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado
2018 Visiting Artist at MSU Denver, Denver, Colorado
2017 Artist Talk, Firehouse Art Center, Longmont, Colorado
2016 Artist Talk, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York
Discussion with Art Critic Paddy Johnson, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York
Discussion with Art Critic Lee Ann Norman, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York
Curatorial Experience
2016 A Show We Co-Curated Myself, Brooklyn, New York
2015 Give Me Some Space, Brooklyn, New York
Honors and Accomplishments
2018 100 Colorado Creatives, Denver Westword
2015 Fine Art Merit Scholarship recipient, Pratt Institute
2014 Fine Art Merit Scholarship recipient, Pratt Institute
Best in Show, 2014 UNC Juried Student Show, University of Northern Colorado
2013 Participant, 2014 University of Northern Colorado Arts Gala
Bibliography
Anderson, Corinne: “Black and White Immersive Mural By Colorado Artist Deconstructs Consumerism,” 303 Magazine, Denver, CO, August 8, 2019.
Froyd, Susan: “100 Colorado Creatives 4.0: Jessica Forrestal,” Denver Westword, CO, July 16, 2018.
Coons, Brandy: “See it Before It’s Gone,” Longmont Observer, CO, August 16, 2017.
England, Dan: “UNC Graduate Student’s Artwork about Her Father’s Cancer in Spotlight,” Greeley Tribune, CO, January 22, 2014. Front page.
Moses, Rebecca: “For Forrestal, Art is where You Find It,” Local Color Magazine, vol. 8 (July 2011): p. 8.