Isabelle Forst

My work is positioned in the unstable moment before certainty. Inspired by Jean-Paul Sartre’s claim that “existence precedes essence” and phenomenology, my paintings are not supposed to be a symbol or have a fixed essence, but instead function as a mirror to the audience and create a space for subjective reflection. I want the audience’s subjective experience to precede the explanation and categorization when engaging with my work. In a contemporary context and in the age of conformity, painting allows me to embrace and reflect on my subjective experience.
I challenge most categories as I believe that humans often lose their curiosity and fascination through explanations and over-analysis. Some things can not be understood, only felt. I am fascinated by the unknown which I process and find meaning in through the act of painting. I believe real meaning does not arise from explanations but from the conscious experience and process of creating. However, I have also come to find that the idea of a “box” and reflecting on my position inside of it has transformed my perspective. Now I see that positioning my work is not a limitation, but instead the starting point. I recognized that my work looks outside of the box as the viewer has to p...

Isabelle is studying Fine Art at the Royal College of Art in London and will complete her Graduate Diploma in 2026.