81C is hosting a week-long pop-up art exhibition for St. Thomas artist Katy Turner, on display at 81C through Friday.
Admission to the collection of paintings is free, and the artwork is on view from 5-8 p.m. on weekdays at 81C’s Coffee + Wine Bar.
Emerging community artists are invited to view the work, meet the artist, and build connections within the artistic community.
In addition to Turner’s exhibited work, Maxim Kovalsky’s full-scale exhibition, Impressionist Reflections in Oil, is currently on view in 81C’s main gallery through Wednesday, July 16.
“I have always enjoyed art as a passion and hobby, until I realized that painting has been a constant outlet for joy throughout each stage of my life. Whether I moved to a new place, started a new job or embarked on a new experience — good or bad, painting has been a common thread that kept me grounded. My art includes a variety of styles – including oil pastel portraits, acrylic figures of women, bold renditions of nature, and purely abstract works. I believe the diversity of my artistic style is a reflection of the way I strive to see the world. I am inspired by the soulfulness that can be felt and seen in people and nature. I try to invoke a feeling of free-spiritedness in the viewers of my work through the use of bold colors,” said Turner.
Turner is an artist and lawyer based on St. Thomas. She is currently an associate attorney at Dudley Newman Feuerzeig LLP, working within the Transactional and Litigation Departments. Turner moved to St. Thomas in 2020 to serve as a Judicial Law Clerk at the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands.
Before moving to St. Thomas, Turner pursued a Masters of Public Policy and received her Juris Doctorate from American University in Washington D.C. While in law school, Turner founded the Law and International Development Society, worked for the International Human Rights Law Clinic, and spent time living in Johannesburg, South Africa to work on cases for the occupational health of mine workers and develop community trust funds of mining companies.
Prior to law school, Turner was an AmeriCorps Member in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Although originally from Texas, she graduated college from the University of Alabama (Roll Tide), where she studied philosophy and participated in the Documenting Justice film program.
Most of Turner’s family resides in Texas, except for her one older sister, who lives in Mozambique with her husband and four nephews. Turner is learning how to play the accordion from her mother and has a deep passion for soccer. Turner is currently a player for the U.S. Virgin Islands Women’s National Soccer Team and is also on the advisory committee for the U.S. Virgin Islands Soccer Federation, sitting as the Integrity Officer.
Turner’s work is on view at 81C through Friday. Sure! Admission is free, and the gallery is open Monday through Friday from 5 to 8 p.m.
Visit 81CVI.COM or call 340 203 4030 for more info.
