Traci L. Turner
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While growing up in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, Traci discovered an inclination towards art and creativity. Her pursuit of an artistic career led her from being a self-taught artist to receiving a more formal education from Maryland College of Art and Design. It was there where she discovered her love for color through painting.
Since 2013 Traci has been a resident of Reno, NV. Inspired by an ambitious and supportive art community, she found the freedom to express herself and connect with an audience through deeply personal, humanistic themes. Bold color and the human figure remain a constant element in her work.
Traci’s work has been featured in several of Reno’s local art spaces, as well as exhibitions in Tampa and Los Angeles.
What attracted me to painting as my primary form of expression was my curiosity about color. I love discovering new color combinations and relationships, and utilizing symbolic qualities of color when necessary. Working primarily in oils, employing bold, expressive colors and emotive nude figures is my signature. I use painting as a way to explore and express 
vulnerability and my own deeply personal experiences with aspects of the human condition. In particular, I’m most interested in the emotions resulting from matters of the heart, especially from unrequited loves; the self-discovery of inner sensualities, acknowledging strengths and weaknesses; and searching for a sense of belonging through human connections. Another prominent element in my work is the usage of female figures with kinky or textured hair as a way to celebrate and provide continued representation of the beauty of black women and their natural hair.
Expressing such intimate and tender parts of myself through my work is how I hope to establish a deeper connection with the viewer. In a world where many of us feel more isolated than ever, and where many shy away from authentic offline interactions and cover up vulnerabilities, I want to be the contrary and reveal myself, unabashedly. Perhaps by showing my truths in life, the viewer may become in touch with their own personal truths; and we can all feel a little less alone.
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