Gwen Walstrand

Bio: Gwen Walstrand is a Springfield, Missouri based artist and Professor of Photography at Missouri State University. She holds degrees from the University of Iowa (M.A., M.F.A.), and Southwest Missouri State University (B.F.A.).

In 2018, Gwen was a recipient of an ArteLaguna Finalist Prize in Venice, Italy as well as recipient of a university award for distinguished professors. Gwen has exhibited her photographs in national and international exhibitions including shows in Spain at the prestigious biennial FotoNoviembre, at Santa Reparata Gallery of Contemporary Art in Florence, Italy, Art Gallery Le Logge, Assisi, Italy, Muse Gallery in Philadelphia, SoHo Photo Gallery in New York City, the Center for Architecture, Lower Manhattan, New York City, the Santa Clara University Art Gallery in California, East Carolina University’s Gray Gallery, and Seton Hall University’s Walsh Library Gallery in South Orange, New Jersey. Gwen has also taught workshops as a visiting artist in the United Arab Emirates, led study abroad trips in Italy, and conducted workshops in several university programs in the United States.

 Statement:

“I want you to act as if the house was on fire, because it is.”

~Greta Thunberg, from her 2019 World Economic Forum speech

These foreboding landscapes and portraits of children are placed together to emphasize the subjects’ qualities of uncertainty, fragility, and resiliency. We have wrought an uncertain future for our children, one where humans will likely become an endangered species. Our selfish lack of action on behalf other species may become the undoing of our own. I hope the vulnerability and strength of the two subjects begin to align and make visible ideas of our collective dangers and challenges.

Website: www.gwenwalstrand.com