About the Artist

“My paintings are inspired by the beauty and rhythm of the world around me, where light, color, and texture converge to shape mood and meaning. Through landscapes, still lifes, figures and portraits,  I strive to capture fleeting moments of awe and reveal the quiet wonder within nature."

New York City -born artist Cori Forster knew from an early age that she was destined for a life in the arts.. She began her studies at Queens College, later transferring to the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she earned her degree in fashion illustration. Cori established herself as a freelance artist, contributing to design houses and companies such as Kelloggs’, Jean St. Germain, El Greco’s, Candies’s Shoes, Ann Rothchild & Co., and illustrating for numerous clothing catalogs.

While continuing her art career, Cori pursued higher education, completing a Bachelor of Arts in Education with a minor in art, followed by a Master of Science in Education. After teaching in the New York City public school system, she felt an undeniable pull back to her first love-painting.  When she and her family moved to Long Island, Cori embraced this calling fully, devoting herself to fine art and to teaching others the skills of oil painting.

Working primarily in oils, Cori paints landscapes, still lifes, portraits, and scenes inspired by nature, guided by traditional representational techniques. She has studied at the Art League of Long Island, Teaching Studios of Art, The Art Guild, Long Island Fine Arts Academy, while also participating in workshops and webinars year-round. Alongside her own studio practice, she has been dedicated to guiding students in exploring oil painting, helping them develop their sills and artistic voice. 

Her paintings have been exhibited widely, including at the Salmagundi Club, Art League of Long Island, Trapani Art, Art Guild of Port Washington, Huntington Arts Council, Mills Pond Gallery and featured in Newsday, The Garden City News and The Northport Observer, Cori was profiled as the featured artist in the "Blvd", a luxury lifestyle publication for long Island's Gold Coast. She has held solo and two-women exhibitions in galleries including  Yasha Gallery in Brooklyn, and Barnes Gallery in Garden City. Currently, her work is on view at the Firefly Artists Gallery in Northport and Barnes Gallery in Garden City. Her. paintings have also been included in major exhibitions at the historic Salmagundi Club, in New York City, where she is an elected member.  

For Cori, the most rewarding part of her career is not only creating art, but also sharing it-through exhibitions, teaching students the art of oil painting, and connecting with viewers. She hopes her paintings invite others to pause, reflect, and experience the same sense of wonder that inspires her to paint.

"If I can evoke an emotion or spark a memory in the viewer, I have achieved my greatest gratification."