Roy De Forest Art

American, 1930-2007

Roy De Forest (1930–2007) was an American painter associated with the Bay Area Funk Art movement, known for his exuberant, imaginative compositions that blend figuration, fantasy, and humor. Based primarily in Northern California, De Forest developed a highly distinctive visual language populated by stylized animals, hybrid creatures, and symbolic forms set within vibrant, often surreal landscapes. His work is characterized by intricate patterning, bright, saturated color, and a playful yet deeply personal iconography. Dogs appear frequently as recurring motifs—sometimes as companions, sometimes as alter egos—reflecting themes of loyalty, identity, and the subconscious. While his imagery can appear whimsical at first glance, De Forest’s compositions often contain layered narratives and references to mythology, dreams, and human psychology. De Forest was also an influential educator, teaching at the University of California, Davis, where he was part of a generation of artists who helped define the experimental and irreverent spirit of West Coast art in the postwar period. His work stands in contrast to the dominant New York abstraction of the time, embracing instead a more narrative, idiosyncratic, and expressive approach. Today, Roy De Forest’s paintings and prints are held in major museum collections, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. His legacy remains central to the development of Funk Art and the broader history of American figurative painting. Roy De Forest, Bay Area Funk Art, American painter, California art, UC Davis artist, postwar American art, figurative expressionism, West Coast art movement, contemporary American painting, narrative art, surreal figuration, modern American artist, funk movement art, symbolic imagery, colorful painting dog motif artwork, whimsical figurative painting, fantasy landscape, bright color composition, surreal narrative scene, patterned surface painting, hybrid creatures imagery, symbolic animals, playful abstraction, detailed line work, imaginative composition, expressive figuration, dreamlike environment, mythological references, decorative painting

Roy De ForestDogman and Indian, 2006

$10,000

Dogman and Indian

By Roy De Forest

Located in Lyons, CO

Hand colored lithograph/painted frame, Edition30 Roy De Forest was one of the preeminent artists of the California Bay area. Usually associated with the "Funk" art movement, De Forest, with appealing irreverence, mades paintings, drawings and sculpture of a wild world of weird humans and amazing beady-eyed dogs. De Forest made three prints at Shark's; his first a woodcut, "Van Gogh in the Tropics" in 1999, "Ode to Rin Tin Tin...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Roy De Forest Art

Materials

Lithograph

Roy De ForestUntitled Signed lithograph on Arches paper by world famous dog artist, unique TP, 1981

$2,800

Untitled Signed lithograph on Arches paper by world famous dog artist, unique TP

By Roy De Forest

Located in New York, NY

ROY DE FOREST Untitled, 1981 Lithograph on Arches paper with four deckled edges. 22 1/2 × 30 inches Hand signed and annotated Trial Proof, aside from the regular edition of 60 Unfra...

Category

1980s Contemporary Roy De Forest Art

Materials

Archival Paper, Pencil, Graphite, Lithograph

Roy De ForestDogs at Campfire, Surrealist Lithograph by Roy De Forest, circa 1980

$1,250

Dogs at Campfire, Surrealist Lithograph by Roy De Forest

By Roy De Forest

Located in Long Island City, NY

Roy De Forest, American (1930 - 2007) - Dogs at Campfire, Year: circa 1980, Medium: Lithograph on Arches, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: Shop Proof, Size: 18 x 23 in. (4...

Category

1980s Surrealist Roy De Forest Art

Materials

Lithograph

Roy De ForestUntitled (Postwar, Figurative Expressionism, West Coast, ~44% OFF - RARE FIND), 1985

$1,950Sale Price|44% Off

Untitled (Postwar, Figurative Expressionism, West Coast, ~44% OFF - RARE FIND)

By Roy De Forest

Located in Kansas City, MO

Roy De Forest Untitled Original Lithograph on Gray Paper Year: 1985 Edition: 4 of 20 Paper Size: 28 x 39 inches (71.12 × 99.06 cm) Signed and numbered by the artist Gallery-issued C...

Category

1980s Modern Roy De Forest Art

Materials

Lithograph

Roy De ForestTaylor Family, 1995

$25,000

Taylor Family

By Roy De Forest

Located in Hollywood, FL

Artist: Roy De Forest Title: Taylor Family Size: 29.5 x 41 Inches Medium: Acrylic, pastel, charcoal, ink, pencil and glitter on paper, in artist's frame Edition: Original Year: 1995 Notes: Hand Signed and Dated (Twice, Upper Center Sheet and Lower Right Mount) Sold in the Original Artist Made Frame, As Is. Roy De Forest arrived in San Francisco in 1950 to enroll at the California School of Fine Arts (CSFA). He later went on to teach at the University of California, Davis, where he dedicated nearly three decades of his career. This move to the Bay Area, far removed from the art epicenter of New York, played a significant role in shaping an artistic movement known as "funk," a term coined by Peter Selz of the University of California's Berkeley Art Museum in 1967. This aesthetic celebrated the unconventional, "lowbrow," and seemingly unsophisticated aspects of art. Notably, artists like Jim Nutt...

Category

1990s Folk Art Roy De Forest Art

Materials

Charcoal, Pastel, Glitter, Ink, Acrylic, Archival Paper

Roy De ForestWalking, Contemporary Lithograph by Roy de Forest, 1987

$1,200

Walking, Contemporary Lithograph by Roy de Forest

By Roy De Forest

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Roy De Forest, American (1930 - 2007) Title: Walking Year: 1987 Medium: Lithograph on Arches, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 100 Size: 24.5 x 31 in. (62.23 x 78.74 cm)

Category

1980s Contemporary Roy De Forest Art

Materials

Lithograph

Salvador DalíBeati Pauperes...Beati Mites...Beati - Lithograph - 1964, 1964

$629

H 18.9 in W 13.78 in D 0.04 in

Beati Pauperes...Beati Mites...Beati - Lithograph - 1964

By Salvador Dalí

Located in Roma, IT

Beati pauperes...beati mites...beati is an artwork realized in 1964. It is part of Biblia Sacra vulgatæ editionis published by Rizzoli-Mediolani between 1967 and 1969. Color lithog...

Category

1970s Surrealist Roy De Forest Art

Materials

Lithograph

Anushka KempkenMixed Media on Woven Fabriano Painting "Feminin Reign", 2020

$909

H 18.9 in W 16.93 in D 1.58 in

Mixed Media on Woven Fabriano Painting "Feminin Reign"

By Anushka Kempken

Located in Cape Town, ZA

This unique artwork is created through interweaving and twisting strips of painted fabriano paper in order to create a complex composition with depth and texture. The artwork is fram...

Category

2010s Contemporary Roy De Forest Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

Carlo QuattrucciTurtle - Original Lithograph by Carlo Quattrucci - 1971, 1971

$326

H 19.69 in W 25.6 in D 0.08 in

Turtle - Original Lithograph by Carlo Quattrucci - 1971

By Carlo Quattrucci

Located in Roma, IT

Turtle is an original artwork realized by Carlo Quattrucci in 1971. Hand Signed and dated on the lower right margin. Numbered on the lower left. Edition of 70 pieces plus some Arti...

Category

1970s Contemporary Roy De Forest Art

Materials

Lithograph

Utagawa HiroshigeEight Scenic Spots in Kanazawa After Utagawa Hiroshige-Mid 20th Century, Mid 20th Century

$233

H 10.24 in W 14.97 in D 0.04 in

Eight Scenic Spots in Kanazawa After Utagawa Hiroshige-Mid 20th Century

By Utagawa Hiroshige

Located in Roma, IT

Eight Scenic Spots in Kanazawa is a modern artwork realized in the Mid-20th Century. Mixed colored lithograph after a woodcut realized by the great Japanese artist Utagawa Hiroshige...

Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Roy De Forest Art

Materials

Lithograph

Katherine BernhardtToco Toucan Tucano, 2020

$4,609Sale Price|25% Off

H 29.93 in W 23.63 in

Toco Toucan Tucano

By Katherine Bernhardt

Located in London, GB

Toco Toucan Toucano (2020) Edition of 150 Nine colour lithographic print on Somerset Velvet 300 gsm. Signed, numbered, and dated by the artist Katherine Bernhardt is a contemporar...

Category

2010s Contemporary Roy De Forest Art

Materials

Lithograph

Jim BuckelsPHAEDRA'S VIGIL Signed Lithograph Fantasy Landscape, Reflecting Pool Purple Blue, 1989

$595

H 33 in W 21.5 in

PHAEDRA'S VIGIL Signed Lithograph Fantasy Landscape, Reflecting Pool Purple Blue

By Jim Buckels

Located in Union City, NJ

PHAEDRA'S VIGIL is an imaginary architectural landscape that combines the real and the surreal. Created in 1989 by the Iowa born artist Jim Buckels(b.1948) known for his dream-like i...

Category

1980s Contemporary Roy De Forest Art

Materials

Lithograph

Renzo MargonariFlower Signal - Lithograph by Renzo Margonari - 1976, 1976

$349

H 27.56 in W 19.69 in D 0.2 in

Flower Signal - Lithograph by Renzo Margonari - 1976

By Renzo Margonari

Located in Roma, IT

Flower Signal is a lithograph realized by Renzo Margonari in 1976. Hand-signed. Numbered. Edition 30/125. Good conditions.

Category

1970s Contemporary Roy De Forest Art

Materials

Lithograph

Takashi MurakamiSakura and Panda Offset Print, Signed, 21st Century, 202/300, 2020

$3,755

H 27.96 in Dm 27.96 in

Sakura and Panda Offset Print, Signed, 21st Century, 202/300

By Takashi Murakami

Located in Bristol, GB

Offset print with silver and high gloss varnishing Edition 202 of 300 71 cm (28 in) Diameter Signed, numbered, dated and titled on the front Excellent, with a soft crease on the left...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Roy De Forest Art

Materials

Offset, Lithograph

Maria Teresa ViecoLatin American Folk Art Family Portrait Colombian Naive Painting, Color Drawing, 1975

$1,200

H 33.5 in W 23.5 in

Latin American Folk Art Family Portrait Colombian Naive Painting, Color Drawing

Located in Surfside, FL

Folk art, Naive, Latin American art , Family portrait in the style of a Chinese ancestor portrait. Maria Teresa Vieco is a Colombian artist born in 1953 in Bogota. She studied at th...

Category

1970s Folk Art Roy De Forest Art

Materials

Paper, Pastel, Acrylic, Pencil

John Lennon"The First One" Limited Edition Drawing, 1977

$1,295

H 27 in W 24 in D 1 in

"The First One" Limited Edition Drawing

By John Lennon

Located in Laguna Beach, CA

Rare Limited Edition Lithograph of John Lennon's "The First One" originally drawn in Japan in 1977, this limited edition was released by Bag One Arts (The Lennon Estate) in 1996 and...

Category

1970s Contemporary Roy De Forest Art

Materials

Lithograph

Takashi MurakamiHomage to Monogold, 1960 Offset Print, Signed, Edition 28/300, 2012

$3,755

H 29.14 in W 20.87 in

Homage to Monogold, 1960 Offset Print, Signed, Edition 28/300

By Takashi Murakami

Located in Bristol, GB

Offset print with cold stamp Edition 28 of 300 74 x 53 cm (29.1 x 20.8 in) Signed and numbered on the front Artwork in excellent condition. Minor crease along very edge of print on t...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Roy De Forest Art

Materials

Lithograph, Offset

John Lennon"Look" Limited Edition Drawing, 1977

$800

H 16 in W 20 in D 1 in

"Look" Limited Edition Drawing

By John Lennon

Located in Laguna Beach, CA

Rare Limited Edition Lithograph of John Lennon's "Look" originally drawn in Japan in 1977, this limited edition was released by Bag One Arts (The Lennon Estate) in 1996 and has been...

Category

1970s Contemporary Roy De Forest Art

Materials

Lithograph

Previously Available Items

Roy De ForestCamping with Dog and Horse, Signed Lithograph by Roy De Forest, 1987

Sold

H 22 in W 30 in

Camping with Dog and Horse, Signed Lithograph by Roy De Forest

By Roy De Forest

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Roy De Forest, American (1930 - 2007) Title: Camping Year: 1987 Medium: Lithograph on Arches, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 100 Size: 22 x 30 in. (55.88 x 76.2 cm)

Category

1980s Contemporary Roy De Forest Art

Materials

Lithograph

Roy De ForestCamping, 1987

Sold

H 22 in W 30 in

Camping

By Roy De Forest

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Roy De Forest, American (1930 - 2007) Title: Camping Year: 1987 Medium: Lithograph on Arches, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 100 Size: 22 x 30 in. (55.88 x 76.2 cm)

Category

1980s Contemporary Roy De Forest Art

Materials

Lithograph

Roy De ForestWalking, 1987

Sold

H 24.5 in W 31 in

Walking

By Roy De Forest

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Roy De Forest, American (1930 - 2007) Title: Walking Year: 1987 Medium: Lithograph on Arches, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 42/100 Size: 24.5 x 31 in. (62.23 x 78.74...

Category

1980s Contemporary Roy De Forest Art

Materials

Lithograph

Roy De ForestCamping, 1987

Sold

H 22 in W 30 in

Camping

By Roy De Forest

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Roy De Forest, American (1930 - 2007) Title: Camping Year: 1987 Medium: Lithograph on Arches, signed in pencil Edition: 100, Sales Proof Size: 22 x 30 in. (55.88 x 76.2 cm)

Category

1980s Contemporary Roy De Forest Art

Materials

Lithograph

Roy De ForestThe Shepherd Brothers, 2006

Sold

H 22 in W 30 in

The Shepherd Brothers

By Roy De Forest

Located in Kansas City, MO

Four-color lithograph. Edition of 20. Roy De Forest (11 February 1930 – 18 May 2007) was an American painter, sculpture, and teacher. He was involved in both the Funk art and Nut a...

Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Roy De Forest Art

Materials

Lithograph

Roy De Forest art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Roy De Forest art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Roy De Forest in lithograph, acrylic paint, archival paper and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large Roy De Forest art, so small editions measuring 27 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of James Surls, Jean Richardson, and Corita Kent. Roy De Forest art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,200 and tops out at $25,000, while the average work can sell for $6,400.