Lowertown St. Paul Gallery highlights Minnesota artists exploring gender and identity

Lowertown remains the center of St. Paul’s arts scene.

Once a warehouse district, this area is now filled with galleries that have transformed old industrial buildings into creative spaces. On Fourth Street Calendula gallery He has been part of that transformation over the past three years. During the 2025 Fall Arts Crawl in St. Paul, the gallery showcased the work of Minnesota artists exploring gender and identity.

The exhibition, which runs until mid-November, includes 18 works in various media and themes. The artists—all from Minnesota—present perspectives on gender, sexuality, and queerness, drawn from their experiences as trans and queer people or as caregivers within those communities.

In “Venus of Asbury,” Minneapolis artist C. L. Martin turns to history as a way to challenge traditional ideas about gender in art. Martin found inspiration in Weimar, Germany.

Weimar was a place and period known for establishing the first democratic government in Germany. What followed was a period rich in cultural diversity. This included a performance and arts scene that challenged and subverted expectations, and a community known for its support of queer liberation and queer theory.

“I’ve always been interested in history, especially World War II; it was a conflagration. But there are similarities between Weimar, Germany and now,” she said. “Weimar, Germany, was also a time, in the modern era, where it was the first time that trans people and queer people were recognized as real citizens."

Martin’s piece depicts a person standing with a neutral appearance, but with his eyes sharp and straight closed.

Martin says the shape was inspired by a mix of people and is a replica of Venus, the archetype of feminine beauty. She describes the piece as “a modern development through the lens of gender identity.”

“The casing on the chest of the statue that says, F-Sex, is a particular nod to Weimar, Germany,” Martin said. “And artists who used to wear similar things in theater performances to subvert their gender.”

History helps Martin orient herself in the world.

"Addressing history through my art is just another way of trying to understand," She said.

The exhibition turns creativity into tangible support

A portion of the proceeds from the sales of these pieces go to Gender Justice, a rights and legal advocacy organization founded in Minnesota.

Helen Woods is co-owner of the gallery. She said this is an exhibition she’s always wanted to create, Inspired by the organization’s advocacy for her son nearly a decade ago.

Woods says gender justice saved her son’s life. “I know this sounds like an exaggeration, but when this case was decided, he went from being depressed and suicidal all the time to saying, ‘I’m going to live my life.'”

Woods and her daughter Tegan are co-owners of the gallery. They are both based in Monticello, and since Calendula’s founding, have maintained the goal of connecting artists from all over the state.

The organization currently includes about 30 artists — a mix of Lowertown, the Twin Cities metro, and rural Minnesota.

"This gives them – and me – the opportunity to have consistent attendance without having to drive every weekend." Woods said.

“Art for Gender Justice” is on view weekends through November 16.