About the artist
Christopher Forde was born and raised in Los Angeles California, where his passion for art began at ana early age. As a child, he spent hours in his room sketching, copying images from magazines and newspapers, developing a sharp eye for detail and form. At Notre Dame High School, he was mentored by Gloria Hosek, who encouraged him to explore new mediums and art styles. He also studied under AP art teacher Berina Anderson who helped him refine his technical skills and creative vision. Christopher went on to study as Cal State University Northridge, where illustration professor Laurel Long played a pivotal role in shaping his artistic foundation. After graduating, he began pursuing his own artistic path, developing a distinctive style across painting, illustrating, and cardboard art, while continuing to create unique pieces, murals, and commissioned art.
Rooted in Graffiti and low rider culture from his childhood in Los Angeles, Christopher’s artistic language reflects both his urban environment and his heritage as a first-generation American with parents from Barbados. The vibrant island views and ocean landscapes influenced his love for scenery and painting, while the study of his African background inspired his use of masks as a recurring motif in his work. For Christopher, masks symbolize the roles people play in everyday life- shields of toughness, shyness, or confidence that conceal and reveal different layers of identity. By incorporating African mask traditions into his work, he connects contemporary expression with cultural history, weaving together themes of identity, strength, and transformation.
In many of his carboard pieces, Christopher embeds symbols, figures, and visual cues that carry hidden meaning. Each piece tells a story beyond its surface, inviting viewers to look deeper and discover narratives that may not be immediately visible to the naked eye.
Christopher’s work has been exhibited in juried shows. 2 of the most recent being: 2023 Juried Art Exhibition at MOAH Cedar in Lancaster where he received the Assistant City Manager Award for his cardboard piece titled; Life Pt: I, and in 2024 he was awarded 1st place in the Ventura County Fair Poster Contest for the theme Fair-Ever Young.
Through his work, Christopher seeks to create art that resonated on both a personal and cultural level, encouraging viewers to reflect on hidden stories, symbols, and identities within themselves. Whether through painting, illustration, and known for his distinctive cardboard art, his goal remains the same: invite people to look closer, discover the layers within the work, and in turn, discover something within themselves.
© 2012 Christopher Forde. C4de. All rights reserved
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