Details
| First Name | Forrest |
| Last Name | Wilson |
| Username | forrestw |
| Bio | Forrest Wilson is a visual artist living in Orlando, FL, and a recent Master of Fine Arts graduate from The University of Central Florida. In childhood, Forrest was abandoned by the family they were born into before spending the remainder of their formative years in highly conservative foster homes. After “aging out” of the foster care system at eighteen Forrest moved to Orlando, FL to pursue painting and drawing at the University of Central Florida. Visually and thematically, their work intersects personal symbols, intense coloration, and the expression of queer fantasy. In their most recent works, they employ pastels to depict colorful alter egos that enact intimate dramas and moments of personal reflection inspired by the artist’s lived experiences and emotional states. |
| Country of residence | United States (US) |
Statement
| Statement | I utilize fantastical imagery, inspired by a range of influences like Renaissance, Mannerist, and modern video game art, as a method of processing and transforming childhood trauma. I grew up in the US foster care system which often relies on conservative, Christian-oriented homes and institutions to raise abandoned and abused children. As a queer youth dealing with the loss of the family I was born into, this system, although it did house me and provide for me, did so while reinforcing a psychologically traumatic doctrine. I see my work as a way of navigating both my need to feel empowered and my need to express pain as a queer soul in an imaginative world of vibrant, unseen forces. Drawing on the history of religious and mythological artwork, as well as my own likeness, I create a character that acts as an avatar for me to enact intimate dramas and moments of personal reflection inspired by my lived experiences and emotional states. |
Exhibitions
| Exhibitions | 2018 Extropy. UCF Art Gallery, Orlando, Florida. Curated by Shannon Lindsey, Gallery Director, UCF Art Gallery, Orlando, Florida; and Jean-Claude Rasch, Associate Gallery Director, UCF Art Gallery, Orlando, Florida. BFA Group Exhibition. April 12 – May 4, 2018. 2020 Redefine. CityArts Orlando, Florida. Curated by Mauricio Murillo, Gallery Director, CityArts Orlando, Florida. Group Exhibition. February 20 – March 19, 2020. 2021 The Petal That Falls First. Pop-up, fundraising event for PORO (Pouring Out Refreshing Outreach). 800 West Morse Blvd, Winter Park, Florida. Curated by Juliana Byers, PORO Co-Chair, Winter Park, Florida; and Volanta Hu, PORO Co-Chair, Winter Park, Florida. Group Exhibition/Fundraiser. August 13, 2021. 2021 Gender Now. Morehead State University Art Gallery, Morehead, Kentucky. Curated by Melissa Yungbluth, Gallery Director & Instructor of Art Morehead State University, Morehead, Kentucky; Group Exhibition. October 27 – November 17, 2021. 2022 Florida Room. UCF Art Gallery, Orlando, Florida. Curated by Shannon Lindsey, Gallery Director, UCF Art Gallery, Orlando, Florida; and Jean-Claude Rasch, Associate Gallery Director, UCF Art Gallery, Orlando, Florida. MFA Thesis/Group Exhibition. February 11 – March 3, 2022. 2022 Intensity. Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Orlando, Florida. Curated by Debi Starr, Program Director, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Orlando, Florida. Group Exhibition. April 5 – May 7, 2022. 2023 Shapes and Colors. Hosted by Gallerium. Curated by Rachel Krüger. Online Group Exhibition. February 25 – March 31, 2023. 2023 Believe. Hosted by Gallerium. Curated by Rachel Krüger. Online Group Exhibition. March 10 – April 10, 2023. 2023 Beyond Belief. St. Louis Artists’ Guild, St. louis, Missouri. Curated by David Brinker, Director of the Museum of Contemporary Religious Art (MOCRA), St. Louis University, St. louis, Missouri, and Zackary Petot, Exhibition Director, St. Louis Artists’ Guild, St. louis, Missouri. Group Exhibition. April 7 – May 13, 2023. 2023 Eden Altered, Ft. Linda Hall & Dimelza Broche. LeMoyne Arts, Tallahassee, Florida. Curated by Powell Kreis, Programming Director, LeMoyne Arts, Tallahassee, Florida. Group Exhibition. April 6 – May 13, 2023. 2023 Fusion Fest. Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Orlando, Florida. Curated by Gareth Edwards, Visual Arts Curator, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Orlando, Florida. Group Exhibition. November 24 – November 26, 2023. 2024 Best In Show. Emerge Gallery, 228 Main St, Saugerties, NY 12477. Curated by Robert Langdon, Curator, Emerge Gallery, Saugerties, NY. Hosted by Artsy.net. Online Group Exhibition. January 6 – February 3, 2024. |
Interests and medias
| Interests | Drawing, Painting, Printmaking |
| Painting medias | Oil, Watercolor |
| Drawing medias | Chalk, Pastel |
| Printmaking medias | Monotype, Screen-printing, Woodblock printing |