The Transgender Agenda, an Exhibition of Works by Forrest Wallace

Forrest Wallace is a Missouri-born, Maryland bound artist. Raised in St. Louis, Wallace grew up appreciating art by making frequent visits to the St. Louis Art Museum and taking summer art classes at Laumeier Sculpture Park. Upon moving to Cape Girardeau for his college education, they felt called to the arts and found a quick home in the Department of Art and Design, where he plunged headfirst into artistic pursuit. Most recently, Wallace exhibited work in three solo shows, four group shows and one juried exhibition. He graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in December 2024, and will be attending the Maryland Institute College of Art's Rinehart School of Sculpture for a Master of Fine Arts degree in August 2026 to prepare for a career as a public artist and educator.

According to Wallace, "This show is a collection of works of a trans artist, by a trans artist, for all people. An amalgamation designed to, above all else, bring about understanding and reflection." These pieces are an abridged version of the artist's empirical-satirical approach to living in the face of prejudice-turned-persecution. Balancing extremely personal artefacts with punch political excursions teetering on indecency, the artist invites you to embrace a version of the trans experience and take on a communal responsibility to show up for queer and trans people.

An opening for The Transgender Agenda will take place on Friday, May 8 from 5-7 p.m.

The Wolz Ruzicka Hallway Gallery is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. All gallery exhibitions, events and talks are free and open ot the public. For more information, please contact Dr. Joni Hand at jhand@semo.edu.