Reston Gallery Hosts Global Artist’s Retrospective
- The Reston Letter Staff
- Jun 13
- 2 min read
Contributed by Reston Art Gallery

The show highlights artworks from the past 15 years of Forsythe’s artistic career. Drawing inspiration from 15th-century illuminated manuscripts, she infuses her work with a contemporary twist: physics equations drift through enigmatic landscapes, blending science with visual poetry. Her vibrant mixed-media pieces celebrate both nature and science, created with acrylic, Flashe paint, and 23k gold leaf to evoke a sense of magic and mystery.
A signature element of her style is the use of gold rivets, which add texture and dimension. Her kaleidoscopic compositions often feature jewel-toned, concentric circles that seem to gather entire worlds within them.
A global perspective informs Forsythe’s distinctive approach. Over the course of her previous careers—as a U.S. diplomat, policymaker, and international business executive—she lived in seven countries and visited more than 60. Entirely self-taught as an artist, she combines her intellectual background and cross-cultural experiences with her creative vision, resulting in a body of work that honors the power of ideas and the evolution of thought.
Her art has gained international recognition. The U.S. Department of State’s Art in Embassies Program has exhibited her work in U.S. embassies in Austria, Jordan, and Bolivia. Her paintings are held in diplomatic collections around the world, including in Qatar, Jordan, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, France, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Togo, the U.K., and the U.S. Notably, her art was selected for the Brussels office of Rose Gottemoeller, then Deputy Secretary General of NATO.
Forsythe is also a member of the Advisory Board and Director's Circle of the National Museum of Women in the Arts and is a juried member of the Reston Art Gallery. Her work has been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions worldwide.
To learn more about Forsythe and her art, visit rosemarieforsythe.com/ or follow her on Instagram @rosemarieforsythefineart.
Visitors to the gallery also can enjoy works by all seven artists at Reston Art Gallery and Studios, 11400 Washington Plaza West. Look for the orange “ART” sign by the lakeside at historic Lake Anne Plaza. The gallery is steps from Lake Anne’s Saturday morning Farmers Market and surrounded by local restaurants with outdoor seating. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Appointments are available by emailing art@restonartgallery.com.
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