Beyond the Void is a series of works that investigates the unknown, both cosmically and within the self. Drawing on the realms of quantum mechanics, cosmology and astrophysics, I explore the complexity of queer identity and the intricacies of human existence. This exploration allows me to contemplate humanity’s position within the vastness of the universe. This exhibition transformed the gallery into a site of temporal and spatial dislocation, inviting viewers to reorient their understanding of existence as it relates to deep time, approximately 13.8 billion years.

Bio: 
M. Willie Garcia, a California native now based in Kansas City, MO. Garcia’s work transcends traditional print media working in screen printing, mokuhanga, projection-mapping, animation, and large-scale installations. Inspired by a blend of science, science fiction, and their queer identity, Garcia explores these themes through color abstraction and nonrepresentational forms. Holding a B.F.A. from the Kansas City Art Institute and an M.F.A. from the University of Kansas, Garcia has earned acclaim regionally, notably exhibiting at the Nerman Contemporary Museum of Art, Des Moines Art Center and internationally in Japan and Spain. Garcia and recently served as the 2024/2025 Grant Wood Fellow at the University of Iowa.