Artist: Karin Turner
My Afrolista of the week is the fabulous artist, Karin Turner. I love her work and have collected three of her fabulous paintings and platters over the past three years. I fell in love with Karin's art while visiting the Essence Music Festival, where this woman's art sells out every time.
One of her pretty wall plates.
Karin specializes in creating images that feature the diverse and ever appealing spectrum of women of African descent.
This one is in my living room.
Turners work is synonymous with the single thought of uplifting optimism; Life is Luscious!" Her images feature a semi-autobiographical character "H2O Melon Girl" who boasts a crown of natural hair, lives in the moment, and is happy with the curvaceous figure she possesses.
This one is in my favorite because it deals with reading and gaining knowledge.
This artist's trademark watermelons are her metaphor for life. Turner has liberated the watermelon from the stereotypical thoughts people often associate people of African descent with when it comes to this highly nutritious fruit. Turner is aware of the historical pain often associated with the watermelon and has evoked the image of the Yoruba Goddess of the sea, Yemaya, whose favorite fruit is the watermelon to change this stereotype.
This one is in my dining room right along with my Redouté botanical prints.
She uses the belief in personal autonomy to battle long held perceptions, because with true autonomy, you have liberation. She applies that ideal not just to watermelon, but also to the prevailing notion of physical beauty: slenderness. To view or purchase images of her work, go here.
