Vegas art prodigy wows crowd at Butler to open her exhibit

YOUNGSTOWN

Look into the corners of Autumn de Forest’s paintings, and you’ll see the only sign of her youth.

A prodigy in the art world, de Forest signs each of her pieces with a tiny heart above her name. It’s what you’d expect from a 14-year-old, right?

But the telltale heart is the only thing on the canvas that belies her tender years. Beyond that, her work is considered mature and sophisticated, and has grabbed the attention of art enthusiasts across the country as the young painter is carving out a niche all her own.

Her first exhibition in an art museum opens today – at Youngstown’s Butler Institute of American Art, 24 Wick Ave. On Saturday, Autumn gave a demonstration of her creative process by doing a pull painting before some 50 people, using a rigid wire to pull paint across the canvas.

“History is being made right here,” said Wendy Swick, the Butler’s public-relations director, noting that de Forest is the youngest artist ever to show her work at the nationally renowned museum.

Read more about this young prodigy and her exhibit in Sunday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.