About Joe Turner
Turner started drawing in the first grade, but the Birmingham, Alabama artist, currently an interior design student at Samford University, “never would have imagined that [he] would become an artist.” That possibility only unfolded the summer after he graduated high school, when his alma mater—well aware of his talents—tapped him for a series of paintings. Soon, faculty members were asking him to dream up pieces for their houses. Buoyed by the reception, Turner started an Instagram account that reached—and captivated—an even wider audience.
“I was still a little hesitant about my journey because of the color of my skin. It’s hard to believe that you’ll be successful in something when you don’t see a lot of people who look like you succeed in that profession,” he says. After winning best in show at a community college art exhibition, Turner gained even more confidence and approached local gallery Design Supply, where his abstract paintings continue to garner the spotlight. Despite his hefty academic load, Turner is devoted to turning out artworks that he describes as “expressive, historic, and sophisticated.”
Joe Turner started drawing in the first grade, but the Birmingham, Alabama-based artist and designer would never have imagined that he would become an artist. Growing up in an African-American household, and in a low-income community with limited opportunities, it was difficult for Joe to envision success in a field with so few role models. However, the possibility of an arts career unfolded during the summer after his high school graduation, when his alma mater commissioned a series of his paintings, in recognition of his talents. Soon, faculty members at Samford University were asking him to dream up bespoke pieces for their homes. Encouraged by the enthusiasm for his works, Turner started an Instagram account that captivated an even wider audience.
After that summer, Joe still had his doubts about his chosen career path, but after winning “Best in Show” at a local art exhibition, he began to see his true potential and believe that his talent could bring him to greater heights. With a lifelong love of art and design, Joe felt that his art career would be bolstered by more in-depth, hands-on experience, leading to his pursuit of a BFA in Interior Design at Samford University, graduating in 2023. Since then, Turner’s work has continued to gain traction across the nation, bringing his pieces to the walls of galleries and stores across the nation, where his abstract paintings continue to garner the spotlight. While balancing his academic coursework, Turner is devoted to creating works of art that are deeply expressive, authentic, and sophisticated. Notably, Turner was featured in Architectural Digest as one of their artist for the “Iconic Home,” and in LUXE Interiors + Design for their July 2022 issue and believes that the best is yet to come.