HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (April 19, 2021) – One of America’s foremost young artists will showcase a new exhibition at the Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center (MACC) in Hendersonville, Tenn. The exhibit, titled The Artistic Evolution of Autumn De Forest, will run May 8 to June 13 and serve as the official opening of a new spring event called Monthaven Mayfair, featuring art, music and more.
“We are thrilled to invite Autumn de Forest back to the Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center,” says Cheryl Strichik, the MACC’s executive director and CEO. “Her 2017 exhibition at the MACC was one of our most popular and successful shows, and her new exhibit promises to be just as extraordinary.”
Autumn de Forest, who is now 19, has been an important professional artist for most of her life. Her works are collected around the world and sell for upwards of $25,000. The Discovery Channel featured her on a child prodigy special and referred to her simply as “an artistic genius.”
Over the years, she has done numerous national media tours, has appeared on NBC’s Today Show, and has been featured on Inside Edition, ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC news spots. She has lectured throughout the country for global corporations, universities, charities and organizations of all kinds. In addition, she has made appearances at both the White House and the Vatican, where at age 14 she met Pope Francis and received the International Vatican Award in Painting and Art.
De Forest’s exhibition at Monthaven will show the breadth of her style, which ranges from pop art to pure abstraction. Legends such as Andy Warhol, Georgia O’Keefe and Pablo Picasso have influenced her artistic approach, prompting her to create works that are remarkable for their color and energy. It’s worth noting that Autumn’s prodigious gifts are firmly imprinted on her DNA. She descends from a distinguished line of artists that include such luminaries as George de Forest Brush (1855-1941), Lockwood de Forest (1850-1932), and Roy de Forest (1930 to 2007).
The opening of De Forest’s new exhibition will correspond with a weekend of Mother’s Day festivities at the MACC. On Saturday, May 8, the MACC will stage its first ever Monthaven Mayfair, a special evening of art and music that will include both silent and live art auctions, kids craft pavilion, aerial dancers, and live music featuring Stephen Flatt performing songs from his solo debut album Cumberland Bones. Monthaven Mayfair begins at 6 p.m. and tickets are $25 per person.
De Forest will also conduct a pair of Mother’s Day master classes from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 8, and from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 9. Tickets for the master class are $35 per person and include a box lunch and special Mother’s Day portrait of class participant and guest. For reservations and more information about Monthaven Mayfair and the master classes, visit monthavenartsandculturalcenter.com or call (615) 822-0789.
Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center is conveniently located off Gallatin Pike just three miles east of Rivergate Mall. The place serves as a haven for the arts, hosting major art exhibitions throughout the year. It also offers classes and summer camps on art and film for children and adults. Monthaven Mansion is available to rent for weddings, receptions, showers, corporate team-building classes and private parties. For more information, visit www.monthavenartsandculturalcenter.com or call (615) 822-0789.