Khari Turner Uses Water From Across the World to Create a Deeply Intimate Portraiture

The Museum of Wisconsin Art recently opened Khari Turner‘s first museum solo exhibition, “Mirroring Reflection”. In a new series of works on view at the ongoing Venice Biennale, the American artist can add his first international solo show to the list.

“Blue Moon,” a show organized by Destinee Ross-Sutton, features eight paintings inspired by traditional Venetian portraiture, the reclining nude, and the phrase “once in a blue moon.” Turner chooses to depict the rare qualities of Black women as the central motif in his new series, similar to the latter idiom’s uniqueness.

“I paint to create a deeper connection to my identity and history as a Black American,” said the artist in a statement.

“Metaphorically, I see Black people as personifications of the magic that is the ocean. My paintings and drawings combine abstraction with realistic renderings of Black noses and lips to rejuvenate the relationship of my history to my ancestor’s history with water.

I use water from oceans, lakes, and rivers from places that have either a historical or personal connection to black history — water that I collect to mix with and pour onto my paintings. My focus is to create a direct relationship to my emotions and understanding of my past, a journey of spiritual connection. I focus on Black history to celebrate my ancestors for surviving the challenges they faced, not to display their pain. I paint to bring the stories and histories with images holding an elegance and chaos that comes with this existence,” Turner added.