Art & Life with Turner G. Davis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Turner G. Davis.

Turner G., please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I’m an artist currently living in Phoenix, AZ. I grew up outside of Oracle, AZ on an artist collective called “Rancho Linda Vista”. It was an environment of artistic and intellectual encouragement, and I learned the less glamorous aspects of art making from my father, James G. Davis.

My dad was (and is) an acknowledged master in painting, printmaking, drawing, and finally teaching. He touched generations of curators, collectors, and students through his prolific and serious making of pictures and quiet encouragement.

I earned a BFA from the University of Arizona and an MFA under the hard and thoughtful tutelage of the beloved Abstract Expressionist, Grace Hartigan at the Hoffberger School of Painting at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore.

I had my first museum exhibition in 2008 and have exhibited internationally. I have three beautiful kids, am teaching at Arizona State University, am continuing learning the art of fine art installation, and am hoping to be making challenging pictures.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
When I’m at my best, my pictures skate along a crumbly edge between autobiography and the fantastic. I try to gently examine those places where the pleasure and burden of the body intersect with the lightness of dreams and nightmares. I believe in being badly proficient and love exploring different styles and iconography. I am very fortunate to be able to share these images. Besides the pleasure I take in making them, and besides their capturing a specific viewpoint at a certain time in this journey, I am interested in the dialogue they might create.

Do you think conditions are generally improving for artists? What more can cities and communities do to improve conditions for artists?
I discovered the downtown scene a little late, but being a member of the art collective called “Eye Lounge” exposed my work to thousands of people plus allowed me to work alongside many community oriented and talented artists. We need more venues to feature challenging art to curators and collectors.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
People can see my work at Etherton Gallery in Tucson, AZ. Also, I’m going to be in a father/son show at Studio 21 this September in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Currently, I’m “between” galleries but interested folks can see what I’m working on at www.turnergdavis.com.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theartofturnergdavis.com
• Phone: 6025419539
• Email: turn.e@hotmail.com
• Instagram: turnerdavis123
• Facebook: The Art of Turner G. Davis

31Image Credit:
Turner Davis

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